Background: Cirrhosis causes a major burden in our society. Most studies have minority of female patients. Therefore, we attempted to study the etiology of cirrhosis in females with the hypothesis that chronic viral hepatitis would play a major role.

Methods: All consenting females with cirrhosis, satisfying the exclusion criteria, attending a referral hospital were included. Clinical details were collected. Relevant serological testing was used to classify the cause of cirrhosis.

Results: In the 118 patients included, mean age was 47.9±14.6 years. Commonest symptom, sign and complication was distension of abdomen (93.2%), ascites (94.9%) and portal hypertension (97.2%) respectively. Majority (48.3%) of cases presented in Child Pugh score B.

The commonest etiology for cirrhosis was alcohol(44.9%) whereas chronic hepatitis B and C accounted for 9.3% and 2.5% respectively. 16.9% cases were cryptogenic.

Conclusion: Alcohol was the major etiology. Chronic hepatitides were less than expected possibly due to lower risk factors.