Support. Education. Resources. Advocacy.
United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc. (UOAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports, empowers, and advocates for people who have had or who will have ostomy or continent diversion surgery. Our mission is to promote quality of life for people with ostomies and continent diversions through information, support, advocacy, and collaboration.
Support
Find local peer support at one of our 300+ support groups in the U.S., get answers to questions on our online discussion board, or connect with our Facebook community.
Education
Medically reviewed surgery-specific information. Ostomy pouch management tips, diet & nutrition, skincare, sexuality, travel tips and more!
Resources
Whether you’re new to the ostomy community or a seasoned person with an ostomy, we offer online tools and guides to help you throughout your journey.
Advocacy
Join our national advocacy network and take action on issues that affect the quality of life of all people living with an ostomy or continent diversion in the United States.
Find Your Ostomy Answer
The official publication of the UOAA, The Phoenix Ostomy Magazine, answers the many questions and challenges of living with an ostomy or being a caregiver.
Topics Include:
- Skin Care
- Odor Control
- Diet & Exercise
- Intimacy
- New Products & Accessories
- Psychosocial Issues
- and much more!
Exclusive, in-depth articles written by medical professionals and experts in stoma care offer advice and solutions while personal stories inspire us all. Each subscription includes a FREE New Ostomy Patient Guide and FREE ostomy product samples.
New to UOAA
Inflammatory Bowel
Disease & Ostomy
Ostomy Resources for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Patients.
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract with increasing global incidence and prevalence.
As much as we often like to prepare ourselves for surgery, sometimes ostomy surgery is done emergently in extreme situations. Nevertheless, whether it is before or after surgery, we can still do our best to acquaint ourselves with the ins and outs of our ostomy.
Managing an ostomy after Crohn’s disease-related surgery may take some time, but don’t get discouraged. Request an ostomy nurse to help you address issues, such as drains in surgical sites and other skin issues. Initially, it may be difficult to get a good pouching system seal on the stoma site, though many of these issues can be remedied with the help of an ostomy nurse.
Intimacy may take some time to rekindle after significant IBD flares and ostomy or IPAA/J-Pouch surgery. When IBD patients are very sick, libido may wane but often returns once the patient is feeling well again. While there are no set guidelines as for when to resume intercourse, many colorectal surgeons advise their patients to wait anywhere from 4-8 weeks after surgery depending on how they are feeling.
At United Ostomy Associations of America, we have developed comprehensive resources for ostomates that may also be applicable for patients living with Crohn’s disease.UOAA’s Upcoming Events
Strength · Empowerment · Resilience
Patient stories, ostomy news, and tips and tricks to navigate your ostomy journey.
Six WOC Nurses that Inspire the Ostomy Community
Fashionable Living with an Ostomy
Quality of Care Resource at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
The Snowball Effect of Ostomy Advocacy
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Tips for a Successful Recovery after Ostomy Surgery
Back to Work with an Ostomy
Social Security Disability Benefits for Colon Cancer
My ostomy helped my husband and I dance even closer
Connect with Us
Join us on social media and help spread the word.
Contact Us
United Ostomy Associations of America
P.O. Box 2293
Biddeford, ME 04005-2293
Call us toll-free at: 1-800-826-0826.
Our Information Line hours are Monday-Friday, 9am to 3pm EST. If you have an emergency, please dial 911 or contact your local medical professional.
Please understand that UOAA is a private, nonprofit, advocacy and informational organization. We are not a medical facility and we do not have medical or legal professionals on staff. Therefore, UOAA does not provide Medical, Mental Health, Insurance or Legal Advice.
Latest News:
Lori’s story: Living with Crohn’s Disease, Ostomy, and Short Bowel SyndromeNovember 14, 2023 - 2:31 pm
AN OSTOMY ARMY STORYNovember 8, 2023 - 10:08 am
OPEN ENROLLMENT – YOUR CHOICES ARE IMPORTANT!October 18, 2023 - 2:45 pm
Convatec is proud to be the Exclusive Diamond Sponsor of the 2023 UOAA Run for ResilienceSeptember 27, 2023 - 9:42 am
Resilience Story: Chris SeylerSeptember 21, 2023 - 10:47 am
