Are oral estrogen contraceptives safe in women with liver disease?
– Credo A: In women with early stages of any liver disease oral estrogen supplements are generally safe and well tolerated. However, in women with advanced liver disease or cirrhosis, oral estrogen supplements should generally be avoided, as they carry a risk of causing or worsening jaundice and cholestasis. Furthermore, “natural” soy estrogen has been linked to causing hepatitis, and therefore should also be avoided. Some researchers believe that excess estrogen can cause some benign tumors of the liver such as focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatic adenomas and hemangiomas to grow. In fact, growth of these tumors have been observed in some women during pregnancy, and in others while taking birth control pills. Furthermore, these people may be at increased risk for rupture. Although the effect of estrogen on women with these tumors are not conclusive, it is advisable for these women to stay off birth control pills and all other forms of estrogen replacement. 08/14/06 Q: My Father has cirr
