Mothers who are infected with hepatitis B may breast-feed their babies, especially if the babies have received appropriate vaccination. It is not known whether the hepatitis C virus can be transmitted in breast milk. This, however, seems to be a low risk. It is not known, however, whether the interferon will have any effects on the nursing baby. Because interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis B or C is elective, it would probably be wise to give a mother interferon either before she becomes pregnant or after she has finished nursing.
Oral contraceptives have little adverse effect on the liver in most women.
They may, however, cause increased growth of an uncommon liver tumor called a liver cell adenoma. Adenomas are benign liver tumors and do not spread outside the liver. Very large adenomas, however, may rupture and bleed. Thus, oral contraceptives probably should not be used by women who have significant adenomas. Although estrogens are normal female sex hormones, at high levels they may interfere with bile formation in some women.