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About 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will have gallstones during their life

	In most people, these stones don’t cause any problems and don’t need any treatment. However, if they are causing pain or inflammation of the gallbladder, ConsumerReportsHealth.org indicates that the usual treatment is an operation to take out the gallbladder.
	Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org to decide if open surgery, keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery or mini-keyhole surgery rates best to take out your gallbladder.

Consumer Reports Health has brought together the best research about gallstones and weighed the evidence about how to treat them. You can use this information to talk to your doctor and decide which treatment is right for you.

Key points about gallstones

• The gallbladder is a little pouch that sits under the liver, and stores digestive juices (bile) that help your body break down food.
• The bile in your gallbladder is very thick and can form crystals, which in turn can grow into gallstones.
• Gallstones that block the tubes that carry the digestive juices can cause pain in your abdomen, inflammation of your gallbladder and fever.
• If the gallstones are causing such problems, the usual treatment is an operation to take out the gallbladder (called a cholecystectomy).
• Risk factors for gallstones include age (over 40), sex (more women than men get them), obesity, and a diet high in saturated fats, among other factors.

If your gallstones cause pain or inflammation, an operation to take out your gallbladder is the best treatment for most people. The operation is typically done by keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. This means your surgeon takes out your gallbladder through small cuts made in your abdomen. But you may need open surgery instead. With open surgery, your surgeon takes out your gallbladder through one larger cut. Mini-keyhole surgery is also an option.

Some people with an inflamed gallbladder want to wait and see if their symptoms come back before deciding to have an operation. This is called watchful waiting. No matter what you choose, it is important to note that you can live a healthy life without your gallbladder.

We encourage you to read our entire condition report and to consult with your doctor to learn more about gallstones. As a Consumer Reports Health subscriber, you’ll have access to our expert research and recommendations, and you’ll be more confident and knowledgeable about which treatment for gallstones is best for you.