Gallstone formation is found to be 2 to 3 times more common in females as compared to males [1]. This difference is observed starting puberty and throughout childbearing age. This is because females have higher levels of estrogen which promotes gallstones formation.
Gallstones are caused by hardened digestive fluid deposits. In most cases, they are primarily composed of cholesterol. Estrogen level is a risk factor because estrogen increases biliary cholesterol secretion causing cholesterol supersaturation of bile [2].
References:
1. Novacek G. Gender and gallstone disease. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946). 2006;156(19-20):527-533. doi:10.1007/s10354-006-0346-x
2. Wang HH, Liu M, Clegg DJ, Portincasa P, Wang DQ-H. New insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying effects of estrogen on cholesterol gallstone formation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids. 2009;1791(11):1037-1047. doi:10.1016/j.bbalip.2009.06.006
