Version July 2025
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What is the gallbladder? —
This is a small, pear-shaped organ that is tucked under the liver (figure 1). It stores bile, a fluid that helps the body break down fat.
What are gallstones? —
These are small stones that form inside the gallbladder. They can be tiny specks or get as big as the whole gallbladder, which can be up to 6 inches long.
Normally, the gallbladder fills with bile between meals. Then, when you eat fatty foods, the gallbladder empties the bile into the intestine. Sometimes, though, gallstones clog the gallbladder and keep it from draining. Other times, gallstones just irritate the gallbladder. If the gallstones are pushed out of the gallbladder, they can keep the liver or pancreas from draining.
What are the symptoms of gallstones? —
In most cases, gallstones do not cause any symptoms. When they do, symptoms can include:
●Belly pain – Often on the right side just under the rib cage or in the middle top portion of the belly.
●Pain in the back or right shoulder
●Nausea and vomiting
If you know that you have gallstones but have no symptoms, you probably do not need treatment. But if you start having symptoms, you should get treatment. The symptoms can come and go, but they often get worse over time.
Are gallstones serious? —
Not usually. In some cases, they can lead to serious problems, including:
●Jaundice, a condition that turns the skin and white part of the eyes yellow
●Infection of the gallbladder
●Tears in the gallbladder, which can lead to death
●Inflammation of the pancreas (the pancreas is an organ that makes hormones and juices involved in food breakdown)
Is there a test for gallstones? —
Yes. Doctors can find out if you have gallstones by doing an imaging test, such as an ultrasound. This is a painless test that uses sound waves to create pictures of your gallbladder.
Even if tests show that you have gallstones, it does not mean that they are causing symptoms. Your doctor might need to do other tests to make sure that your stones and your symptoms are related.
How are gallstones treated? —
People generally have 3 treatment options. They can have:
●No treatment – This option is best for most people who have no symptoms. If they start having symptoms, they can think about treatment then.
●Surgery to remove the gallbladder and the stones – Gallbladder surgery is routine in the US. But it involves using anesthesia, so it has some risks. The surgery does not affect digestion very much. But about half of people who have surgery have mild symptoms afterward, including watery bowel movements, gas, or bloating. These symptoms usually get better.
●Treatment to get rid of the stones but keep the gallbladder – People can take medicines to break up gallstones. Medicines only work with some stones, and they can take months to years to work. The stones can also come back after. In rare cases, doctors can use a device to break up and remove the stones.
Which treatment should I have? —
The right treatment for you depends on:
●How large your stones are
●Whether you have symptoms, and how bad they are
●How you feel about the treatment options
Ask your doctor or nurse how each treatment might affect you. Then, work with them to find the treatment that makes the most sense for you.
How can I try to prevent getting gallstones? —
Try to keep yourself at a healthy weight. People who have excess body weight are more likely to get gallstones.
If you plan to lose weight quickly, even if you have never had gallstones, ask your doctor or nurse what you can do to keep from getting gallstones. Losing weight quickly (for example, through weight loss surgery) can lead to gallstones. But your doctor or nurse can give you medicines to keep that from happening.
Patient education: Gallstones – Discharge instructions (The Basics)
Patient education: Acute pancreatitis (The Basics)
Patient education: Lithotripsy of bile or pancreatic duct stones (The Basics)
Patient education: Low-fat diet (The Basics)
Patient education: HIDA scan (The Basics)
Patient education: Abdominal ultrasound (The Basics)
Patient education: Cholecystectomy (The Basics)
