Bowel surgery leaves women at risk of infertility

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A survey of women having major bowel surgery shows it has an adverse effect on their fertility.
Ulcerative colitis is a condition where sores and inflammation along the large intestine produce severe diarrhea and rectal bleeding. Sometimes surgery is needed to relieve the symptoms. Ileal pouch anal anastomosis is the usual procedure, involving removal of the lower section of the large intestine and creation of a small pouch. This is joined to the remaining bit of rectum to preserve normal bowel function.

However researchers at the University of Michigan now reveal that this procedure is linked to an increased risk of infertility. With drug treatment alone for ulcerative colitis, the risk of infertility is one in seven – not dissimilar to the rest of the population. With surgery the risk goes up to 48 per cent and all patients seem to be at some risk. It may be that the surgery causes some damage to the fallopian tubes.

Source
GUT online first 13th June 2006

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