What Is the Effect of Surgery for Crohns Disease on Pregnancy?
Women who have had bowel resections (surgeries to remove part of the bowel) do not appear to have any problems during pregnancy. Women who have had ileostomies may have lower fertility rates. An ileostomy is a procedure in which the end of the small intestine is brought through a hole in the abdomen called a stoma. It’s done so that waste may be emptied into a bag attached to the stoma. It may be best to wait for a year after this surgery to become pregnant in order to reduce the risk of the ileostomy dropping or becoming blocked during pregnancy. Some women with Crohn’s disease develop fistulas — abnormal passageways between organs. If you have a fistula or an abscess — a cavity filled with pus — that’s near the rectum and vaginal area you will likely be advised to deliver your baby by Caesarian section, or C-section.
