What are gallstones made of?

The gallbladder stores bile, a fluid that helps digest fat. When bile contains more cholesterol or pigment than it can keep dissolved, crystals may develop and join together. Poor emptying of the gallbladder can also allow material to remain and harden. Cholesterol stones are often pale; pigment stones contain more bilirubin and may be darker. Some stones are tiny, while others become larger over time.

Many stones cause no symptoms. Trouble begins when a stone irritates the gallbladder or blocks a bile duct, which can produce upper abdominal pain, nausea, indigestion, or vomiting.

The composition cannot be determined reliably from symptoms alone. If an ultrasound has found stones, ask what their location means and whether they are causing your symptoms. A GP consultation can help assess pain, digestion, medicines, weight changes, and other possible explanations.

Get urgent help for intense or ongoing abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, repeated vomiting, faintness, or marked abdominal tenderness. A blocked duct or inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas can require prompt treatment.

Ask whether the scan shows stones in the gallbladder or a duct, whether liver tests are needed, and which symptoms should trigger urgent review. Also ask how planned treatment would address the stones and the gallbladder itself.