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Urostomy Association

This is a photo of urostomate Julie Mason Wright riding a racing bike. She is wearing a helmet and a pink and grey cycling jacket.

Accentuating the positive

From making friends at primary school to carving out a career in nursing and taking on epic sporting challenges, Julie Mason-Wright, 54, hasn't let having a stoma hold her back. Read her story of positivity and resilience. 

This is a photo of a young black woman smiling directly at the camera, wearing a yellow t-shirt. It is the header image for the Women's Sexual Wellbeing page on the Urostomy Association's website

Women’s sexual wellbeing and pregnancy

Women can encounter sexual wellbeing problems after urinary diversion surgery, and everyone’s experiences vary. We hope this information helps as you explore what sexual wellbeing will mean to you going forward.

This is a photo of a man sitting on a sofa. He looks in pain, and his clutching around his stomach. It is the cover image to the recording of a webinar held by the Urostomy Association on 4 February 2025 on preventing and managing hernias

Managing hernias

Urostomates are prone to parastomal hernias. In this webinar recording, hear from Mr Mohammed Belal, consultant urologist at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, about how to reduce the risk, and how to manage hernias should they occur. He is joined by Sarah Russell, clinical exercise physiologist and Gill Thomas, a recent urostomate who has followed Sarah's clinical pilates programme for people with a stoma.

This is a photo of two women jogging. It is the header image for the Urostomy Association's 'fundraise for us' page.

Fundraise for us

There are many ways to get involved in fundraising for us; we'll support you every step of the way and spend every penny you raise with care.

This is a photo of Samantha Sherratt, the Urostomy Association's Transformation Director, with Pauline Jones, the Company Secretary for The Hospital Saturday Fund. Pauline is presenting Samantha with an envelope confirming a grant toward the Association's Help Provide Hope fund,.

Hospital Saturday Fund supports Help Provide Hope project

Most people have never heard of a urostomy or urinary diversion, and cannot imagine life without a functioning bladder. So we’re delighted to have received £9,475 from the Hospital Saturday Fund toward our Help Provide Hope project. The project is enabling us to expand the peer-reviewed resources we have available, one-to-one, online and in more traditional formats.

This is a photo of Roger Bowen. He is standing in front of a book case and smiling directly into the camera.

The kindest cut

Roger Bowen understands how it feels to grow up being ‘different’. Now 69, he has lived with a urostomy since boyhood. As Roger shares in this blog, he’s encouraged that there’s now more understanding for ostomates of all ages, helping them embrace life with greater confidence.

This is a photo of three people in consultation around a table. It is the header image to illustrate a news item titled 'Position statement from the Urostomy Association in response to the consultation – ‘Medical Devices in Primary Care Proposals for Updating Part IX of the Drug Tariff’.

Help shape the future of medical devices

National Voices (of which the Urostomy Association is a member) has launched a survey to find out more about people’s experiences of using medical devices and products. Have your say for a chance to win £250!

This photo shows four people answering telephone calls. They're each wearing mouth pieces. There is a young woman facing the camera. It is the header image for a page on the Urostomy Association's website entitled 'stoma product delivery: know your rights'

Receiving stoma products: know your rights

While the delivery of stoma supplies is typically reliable, there’s always the possibility that you could encounter challenges in receiving the right product when you need it. If this happens to you, knowing your rights as an ostomate can help you manage a situation that can feel stressful as well as being very inconvenient.

This is a close up of Cathy Varley, in her shades, sitting in the sunshine with her dog. It is the header image for her blog on the Urostomy Association's website

From shock diagnosis to stoma pride

Cathy Varley thought that 2024 was going to be her year. But a shock diagnosis of bladder cancer threw her into turmoil. In this interview, conducted just four months after her surgery, Cathy describes how she has not only came to terms with her urostomy, but has grown to be proud of it!

This is a photo of a middle-aged white man, wearing a navy shirt and glasses. He is sitting on a sofa with a laptop on his knee. He is looking into the distance, thoughtful. It is the header image for the 'Preparing for surgery' image on the Urostomy Association's website

Preparing for your surgery

As the day of your op draws closer, there’ll be lots to think about, from what to pack for your hospital stay to arranging a lift home after you’ve been discharged. We've put together some practical tips to help make life a little easier at what can feel like a stressful time.

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