Last February when I was pregnant, I found out that I had gallstones via a fetal ultrasound exam. Now my OB insists that I get the gallbladder removed before trying for a second pregnancy. I had no diagnosed gallbladder attacks in my first pregnancy or after childbirth. My primary care physician refused to give me a referral for treatment until I had symptoms. Eventually I reported three episodes of minor flutters (just to the right of my belly button) and I was finally referred. The surgeon, though, said I was not having gallbladder symptoms and that my OB is pushing unnecessary surgery. He said a lot of people keep gallstones without symptoms. Is my OB right to want me to get treatment? Could I have severe stone problems in my second pregnancy even if I didn't have them in my first? I don't like the idea of surgery, but I'm confused. I am 41 and had fertility problems, so want to try soon to get pregnant.

Lisa

It sounds as though your OB is concerned that if you have complications of your gallstones during your pregnancy and require an emergency operation, it would put both you and your baby at risk. While it is true that patients with known gallstone symptoms -- which you do not have -- run a risk of increased symptoms during pregnancy, we would not ordinarily recommend that someone who has not had symptoms have the gallbladder removed as a preventive measure before attempting to conceive.

While there can be no guarantees that you won't get symptoms later, the general approach to asymptomatic gallstones in otherwise healthy people is to leave them alone. I wish you luck.