Signs and symptoms
... You may not know you have gallstones until they''re discovered during tests done for other reasons. But sometimes gallstones may cause certain signs and symptoms. These include: Chronic indigestion. S...

Causes
... Your liver produces bile — a greenish-brown fluid composed of bile salts, fatty compounds, cholesterol and other chemicals. This fluid is concentrated and stored in your gallbladder until it''s ...

Risk factors
... Gallstones tend to run in families. Other factors that may increase your risk include: Sex. Women between the ages of 20 and 60 are more than twice as likely as men are to have gallstones. That''s bec...

When to seek medical advice
... Call your doctor if you develop a sudden, intense pain in your abdomen, especially if you also have nausea, vomiting or fever. If you develop one or more symptoms of bile duct obstruction — abdo...

Screening and diagnosis
... Many gallstones, especially those that don''t cause signs or symptoms, are discovered during tests — including ultrasounds or computerized tomography scans — done for other reasons. If you...