Fertility in Women After Complete Removal of Rectum?

That's way harsh, bro! Any pelvic surgery creates scar tissue that can decrease fertility, and removal of the rectum in particular can decrease fertility even more for some structural reasons, but there's no reason to believe that you will be 100% infertile after the surgery. In fact it strikes me as really irresponsible for him to tell you that, since you might go around not using birth control just on his say so!

The scar tissue resulting from pelvic surgery that reduces fertility often does so by blocking the fallopian tubes (one or both) -- which may prevent regular conception, but still leaves open the possibility of IUI and IVF.

No one can make a promise to you either way. There are plenty of women who have conceived after total proctectomy, but not all are able.

Oddly enough, my surgeon (male), didn't even say a word about fertility- we talked about my vagina moving position- and belive me, there's a darned good chance it'll happen! But nothing re. fertility- I had the same surgery as you, everything out- rectum, anus, colon. I am seeing my gyn this coming Monday, so I may ask her, just out of curiosity- but I'm more concerned with the vaginal tilt that I seem to have developed, without the rectum to support the vagina. I have a child already, & am not planning on any more, but I wouldn't count on your surgery as birth control, no way!

Hi Sarah,

Yes, actually infertility is a huge issue to consider. I had my jpouch (2 step) done 19 years ago, when I was 15 years old.

I found out last year that I am infertile. Many women will have uni-or-bilateral fallopian tube scarring that can complete blockage of the tubes, making IVF an option.

As well as both tubes being blocked, my ovaries were scarred and they stop releasing eggs about three years ago. I had no idea this was happening to me. And at this point, I have no eggs to freeze.

Before having my jpouch removed for a perm end ileo last Oct, my colorectal surgeon suggested I see the fertility doctor she sends her jpouch patients to, so that we could freeze my eggs prior to surgery. It was after I met with the fertility specialist and we ran a bunch of tests that I found out the news.

Some studies show infertility rates as high as 80% - but know that IVF may be an option if you a suitable candidate.

My fertility specialist feels my early (I was diagnosed at age 10) use of drugs and chronic severe inflammation in the area that my reproductive parts are what affected my ovaries, and obviously, my tubes are scarred from the surgeries.

It's a gamble, and it's true, you may not find out until you start family planning to find out if having kids is a possibility for you.

My response isn't meant to scare you at all, you have to put your health first, but for me, of course hindsight is 20/20 and I would have either gotten eggs prior to the jpouch , or stuck with an ileo until after having kids.

Also, a perm ileo doesn't have the same affect on fertility as completing the jpouch procedure does, at least not at the hospital that performed my surgeries.

Post Edited (PoucherInTO) : 6/21/2014 2:32:21 PM (GMT-6)

I live in Ontario, which does cover IVF, but yes, freezing of eggs is often not covered unless private insurance takes that part on (sometimes a portion is covered).

I am at that age where family planning was happening anyway, and because of the blocked tubes, hormonal stimulation and egg retrieval was the only option. However, upon further testing, I was not a candidate for stim and retrieval.

So, for some, as expensive as it is, it's reality.

I have two friends, early 30s, who have started treatment for cancer, and they both had one month to do stim and retrive prior to starting chemo. Much as it sucks, for many people it's the only way to ensure future biologial offspring.