What Is a Stoma: Types, Ileostomy, Colostomy & Care

If you’ve recently learned that you or someone close to you needs a stoma, the words on that hospital discharge sheet can feel like a foreign language. A stoma is a surgically created opening in the abdomen that diverts waste when the usual pathways are blocked or bypassed — and it is more common than most people realise, with over one million ostomy patients in the United States alone. This guide walks through what a stoma is, the different types, and what daily life actually looks like with one.

Definition: Surgical opening in abdomen · Purpose: Diverts faeces or urine · Common Types: Colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy · Location: Surface of abdomen · Collection: Stoma bag

Why do people get a stoma?

A stoma is created when the usual pathway for waste elimination is blocked, removed, or needs to be bypassed for healing. According to ABC Medical (medical supply specialist), this surgical opening allows faeces or urine to exit the body when the bladder or digestive tract cannot function normally. The key difference between ostomy types lies in which part of the intestine or urinary system is redirected to the abdominal surface.

Common medical conditions

Ileostomies often result from colon removal due to Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s disease, conditions that cause severe inflammation and require surgical intervention when medication no longer controls symptoms. UC Davis Health (university hospital) explains that removing the colon — and sometimes the rectum — creates the need for an alternative exit point. Cancer of the colon, rectum, or bladder is another common reason, particularly when tumours block normal function or require removal of affected organs.

Surgical reasons

Temporary stomas are frequently created after bowel surgery to allow the intestine time to heal before waste flows through again. Fittleworth (UK stoma care supplier) notes that these temporary openings can later be reversed in a second surgery once healing is complete. Trauma injuries, congenital conditions, and bowel obstruction also account for stoma creation when normal function cannot be restored through less invasive means.

The implication: temporary stomas serve as a healing bridge, allowing the digestive system to recover before normal function resumes.

What is an ileostomy?

An ileostomy redirects the small intestine — specifically the ileum — to an opening on the abdominal wall, bypassing the colon entirely. Occtopus (UK stoma support organisation) explains that because waste no longer passes through the colon, which normally absorbs water, the output is liquid or semi-solid rather than formed. This is one of the most important practical differences between ileostomy and colostomy.

How it differs from colostomy

The distinction comes down to which part of the digestive tract is redirected: ileostomy uses the small intestine, while colostomy brings the large intestine (colon) through the abdominal wall. Healthline (medical publication) states that ileostomy output is exclusively liquid, whereas colostomy produces more formed stool since the colon continues to absorb water. Ileostomies are typically located on the lower right-hand side of the abdomen, while colostomies are usually on the left side.

Ileostomy procedure

According to Healthline (health information platform), there are two main types of ileostomy: end ileostomy, which separates the small intestine from the colon, and loop ileostomy, which pulls a loop of intestine through the incision with two openings. Because ileostomy output contains digestive enzymes, it is more corrosive than colostomy output and requires careful skin protection around the stoma.

The pattern: ileostomy patients must adapt to a different routine, with more frequent emptying but potentially greater flexibility in wear duration between changes.

Is a stoma the same as a colostomy bag?

These are related but distinct terms. The stoma itself is the surgically created opening on the abdomen — the visible pink or red surface that exits through. The colostomy bag (or ileostomy bag, or urostomy bag) is the pouching system that attaches to the skin and collects the output. According to ABC Medical (ostomy product specialist), the stoma is the opening, and the bag is the collection device — they work together but are not the same thing.

Stoma vs bag distinction

The stoma is tissue — a piece of intestine brought to the skin surface — and it has no sensation. The bag is a removable system that clips or adheres around the stoma to contain output. United Ostomy Associations of America (national ostomy association) notes that modern pouching systems include odour-proof bags and adhesive skin barriers designed to match each person’s unique stoma shape and body contours.

Types of stomas

Colostomies are classified into four subtypes based on which section of the colon is brought to the surface: ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid. According to Stealth Belt (ostomy accessories supplier), the location affects stool consistency — ascending colostomy output tends to be more liquid, while sigmoid colostomy produces the most formed stool. Urostomy, the third main type, redirects urine from the urinary tract when the bladder is removed or bypassed.

What this means: matching the pouching system to output type directly affects comfort, leak prevention, and daily confidence.

Can you still poop if you have a stoma bag?

Waste exits the body through the stoma, not the anus, when an ostomy is in place. Fittleworth (UK medical supplier) confirms that colostomies can be end or loop types, with output ranging from soft to formed depending on the colon section used. The rectum and anus remain in place but no longer receive stool — they may still produce mucus, which is normal.

Output through stoma

For those with an ileostomy, output is liquid and continuous throughout the day because it bypasses the colon entirely. Fittleworth (stoma care provider) notes that ileostomy bags are designed for this liquid output, with drainable options that can be emptied without removal. For colostomy patients, output is more formed and may occur 1-3 times daily depending on diet and bowel habits.

Daily function

Managing a stoma bag becomes part of the daily routine, similar to other aspects of personal care. United Ostomy Associations of America (ostomy advocacy organisation) explains that drainable pouches are open-ended and emptied while attached, using tail closures, while closed-end pouches are sealed and discarded after a single use. Choosing between them depends on whether your output is predictable — a feature more common with colostomy than ileostomy.

Do stoma bags smell?

Modern ostomy bags are designed with odour containment as a core feature. UChicago Medicine (academic medical centre) confirms that contemporary pouching systems include odour-proof materials and filters that release gas without allowing smell to escape. When the bag is properly sealed, odours should not be detectable to others.

Odour management

Proper bag application, regular emptying, and dietary awareness all contribute to odour control. Occtopus (UK stoma support resource) advises that certain foods — such as asparagus, eggs, and some spices — may affect odour for anyone with a digestive system, stoma or not. Emptying the bag before it becomes too full and ensuring a secure seal around the skin barrier are the two most effective daily habits.

Common concerns

New ostomy patients often worry about being “found out,” but the reality is that modern pouching systems are remarkably discreet. United Ostomy Associations of America (patient advocacy organisation) notes that under normal clothing, no one can tell that someone is wearing a stoma bag. Gas passing through the system can produce noise — particularly with ileostomy — but filters built into many bags help manage this quietly.

Choosing an ostomy pouching system is a personal decision based on your stoma, your skin, your output (stool or urine), and your day-to-day routine.

— United Ostomy Associations of America (Ostomy Association)

The key difference between them is that an ileostomy redirects part of the small intestine to a stoma, while a colostomy redirects the large intestine (colon) to this abdominal opening.

— Healthline (Medical Publication)

The implication: selecting the right system requires understanding both the medical requirements and personal lifestyle preferences, with professional guidance helping patients find their ideal match.

Related reading: What Does Skin Cancer Look Like – Early Signs and Pictures · How to Remove Skin Tags – Safest Professional Methods

Frequently asked questions

For someone newly adjusting to life with a stoma, the learning curve is real — but the systems available today are designed with discretion and comfort in mind. Consulting an ostomy nurse for personalised fitting and product selection makes a measurable difference in daily confidence. The choice of pouching system ultimately depends on your output type and lifestyle, not on procedure labels alone.