I was in a car accident and suffer from herniated disks and arthritis of my spine. As life changing enough as that is when I received the report from my CT Scan they had other news to tell me as well. I have a liver disease. When the doctor explained how serious this could be and that I need to go to a specialist for further examination because I'm too young (22 years old) for this type of problem I became overwhelmed by emotion, but needed to find out all I could on my condition. I looked up everything I could on the disease and came to find that it's most common in over weight people and people who drink excessively. My argument was I know I’m not in the best shape, but I know plenty of people who are far worse about taking care of their health than I am that don’t have this problem; and as I do enjoy having a social drink I don’t drink that often. Little did I know after further research one of the leading contributors to my condition was the birth control pill that I had been taking since I was 16 years old. I had always had a terrible menstrual cycle. My flow was always very heavy and my cramps were so intense that at least once a month it was guaranteed that I would be in bed clenched up in the fetal position wishing the pain away. To help with my unbearable period my doctor had prescribed that I go on the pill to lessen the severity of my monthly visitor, so I did. It worked wonderfully! The pain was not nearly as bad as before and the flow of the blood lightened immensely as well as giving me shorter monthly periods. Unfortunately for me later on this would give me more problems with my health than I could have ever imagined. Sure enough when I read the small print on the inserted leaflet of my birth control prescription it does say that problems of the liver may occur. There is not a cure for the liver disease that I have, but am told that if I change my lifestyle I can stop it from progressing into cirrhosis of the liver which is ultimately what most people die from when they have liver problems. I am taking all necessary precautions at this time to keep the condition from getting worse, and wanted to share my story with all of you so that every woman is aware of all of the possible risks.
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Please investigate natural family planning either symptothermal or cervical mucous or both. You are only fertile for few days each cycle.
Also the lady comp can help. Good luck.
May 16, 2016 - 2:33pmThis Comment
I have had elevated liver enzymes for the last 6 years. I've been to countless doctors who told me that I'm too young to have major problems and that it was probably just fatty liver. My symptoms have been everything from losing my hair, easy bruising, itching and blotches on my face. My endocronoligist (who I love) also found that I am not absorbing vitamins d, e, a and k, all because of my liver functioning. I had a liver biopsy three weeks ago and was given the results yesterday. I have been on Tri Sprintec (generic Orthotrycline) on and off since I was a teenager and it has been slowly poisoning me. I am 37 years old. I NEVER would have thought that it was my birth control pills. I have told my OBGYN about my elevated liver enzymes and symptoms time and time again for years and never once did he think to tell me the possible complications from taking the pill. My liver doctor said that my levels should be dramatically lower within six weeks. Had I gone on much longer I would have had irreversible damage. Scary stuff.
July 6, 2012 - 11:35amThis Comment
Did you find out if it was your pill or something else?
October 8, 2013 - 12:10pmThis Comment
It was actually Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, stage 2. I ended up at The Mayo Clinic.
October 8, 2013 - 12:59pmThis Comment
My daughter is currently suffering from Liver problems the gall bladder show up as completely collapsed when she has ultra sounds, CT and MRI scans showed no problems They took her off the Pill micrgynon 30ed but the levels just keep rising up to over 1400 .But finally she was treated with a high level of antibotics and came right the levels droped down within weeks. For 9 months we had checks every month and she was on the mini pill. All was good she went back on to a normal pill (a new one) in month 4 of this she felt unwell and on Monday she went in and asked for tests the levels are rising again they have stopped the pill an ultra sound today found once again the gall bladder collapsed. We go to the specialist tomorrow. They seem to think it was the pill but why did the antibiotics fix it last time they would not fix pill damage. One doctor believed it was a bug in the bile ducts and prescribed the antibiotics. May be she would have got better without them we will never know. I just want to get to the bottom of it and to have her well
December 1, 2011 - 6:30amThis Comment
i am 22 and just found out i have fatty liver disease and i was wondering if this could be caused by mirena? i had it in place for about a year just had it removed a month ago, horrible side effects, i don't know if anyone here has also experienced SVT with birthcontrol, im not sure if mirena has caused that also i am to have an ablation in december, i have also recently found out i have hoshimotos disease and was wondering if there was any effects on the thyroid...i am healthy active not obesse and i dont drink, i have two kids so i keep pretty busy...i dont know why all of this stuff is happening to me but it seems to be linked to around the time i got the mirena up to the time i got it out and even now with it out i have horrible abdominal pain due to a bicorniate uterus which i never had before..i don't know why my uterus is changeing shaped either...i feel like i'm going crazy, everytime i go to the doctor i find out something is wrong with me and i have a suspicion that it is linked to mirena...can anyone give me any info on this?
--thanks alot and good luck to everyone that unfortunately has to post on here
October 17, 2011 - 12:42amThis Comment
Did you ever find out if it was your pill or something else?
October 8, 2013 - 12:09pmThis Comment
Well I am here to tell you what is going on with me. I am 47 and have been taking Birth Control pills for 25 plus years. I take Trivora and I was told that is would help me get through the change of life and no problems. Well on Oct. 3, 2011 I will be having my left lobe of my liver removed because of Heptic Adenoma which is because of long term use of the pill. I had no idea this was going to happen to me. I have High Blood Pressure and I have had gall stones and that that removed as well about 15 years ago. I which someone or one of my doctor's would have told me this a long time ago. I also, have some area's on my right side of the liver that we need to watch because if they keep growing then we are talking about transplant. This is trouble to do to women. I no longer take the pill and I have changed Doctors already. Just wanted to let people know what can happen.
September 20, 2011 - 3:43pmThis Comment
I've been having problems with my gallbladder and during an ultrasound they found a significantly large lesion on the top of my liver. After an MRI my doctor and another surgeon decided I should go see a liver specialist. So that's where Im at now. Im a 31 year old who has been on and off birth contol since I was 16. As of right now Im on Seasoniqie. I also have a history of anemia so I thought this pill would be ideal considering I would only get my period once every 3 months. My doctor thinks this drug is what caused the lesion on my liver. If it wasn't caused my the birth control then its a malignancy. After reading all the comments on here Im pretty certain it was caused my the pill. Ohh what us women have to deal with lol! Good luck to all!!
September 4, 2011 - 7:56amThis Comment
Hi! thanks for sharing your story. i used to take pills for about two years, and i also got really bad cramps and the pills helped. but then i had gallbladder surgery, and i realized that my liver needs help processing foods and fats. ive gained weight because of that. i think its terrible tht these pills made my disease of the gallbladder appear at least some ten years earlier than it should have, taken into account that most of my fam from my dad's side have been operated bc of it.
August 31, 2011 - 5:59pmThis Comment