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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Birth Control Pills Increase Liver Enzyme Levels?

My liver enzymes increase significantly. On April 22, 2014 my ALT levels were 89 and my AST levels are 68, and recently I completed a CBC on June 18, 2014 and my ALT levels to 474, and my AST levels are 362. What you think caused this increase. I recently had high RA numbers and recently started taking birth control pills, do you think this is the caused of the increase levels?
Mon, 27 Apr 2015
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi

Thanks for posting your query on HCM.
I appreciate your concern for the raised enzymes while taking birth control pills.

One of the important adverse effects of birth control pills is liver injury as a result of which the liver enzymes, bilirubin, etc are raised.

This type of liver injury typically occurs during the first few cycles of the therapy. If the liver injury is severe, bilirubin and alkalaine phosphatase levels also increase causing yellowish discoloration of the skin, right upper abdominal pain and itching.

Use of birth control pills has also been linked to hepatic tumors, both benign and malignant.
Since you have a significantly high levels of ALT and AST which reflect the liver damage caused by birth control pills.

These levels will return to normal after stopping the birth control pills.

So, visit your treating gynecologist for possible use of other contraceptive methods like intrauterine devices.

Hope these suggestions could be helpful to you in preventing further liver damage.

Wish you good health.
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Does Birth Control Pills Increase Liver Enzyme Levels?

Hi Thanks for posting your query on HCM. I appreciate your concern for the raised enzymes while taking birth control pills. One of the important adverse effects of birth control pills is liver injury as a result of which the liver enzymes, bilirubin, etc are raised. This type of liver injury typically occurs during the first few cycles of the therapy. If the liver injury is severe, bilirubin and alkalaine phosphatase levels also increase causing yellowish discoloration of the skin, right upper abdominal pain and itching. Use of birth control pills has also been linked to hepatic tumors, both benign and malignant. Since you have a significantly high levels of ALT and AST which reflect the liver damage caused by birth control pills. These levels will return to normal after stopping the birth control pills. So, visit your treating gynecologist for possible use of other contraceptive methods like intrauterine devices. Hope these suggestions could be helpful to you in preventing further liver damage. Wish you good health.