Many ostomates experience an altered body image or loss of control over their own body after stoma formation. Considering this and other physical and psychological changes, ostomates may withdraw from intimacy or feel nervous and unsure when it comes to sexual wellbeing (Fitzgerald et al, 2025).
This section is aimed to support nurses in empowering patients and enable them to feel respected, safe and supported while navigating sex and intimacy with a stoma through helpful support and advice from the experts.
To help you deliver the best level of care, our dedicated content gives you information on the daily challenges that your ostomy patients may face. You can access these resources in the form of a podcast, symposium, paper, and poster to support your learning.
We don't talk about sex enough: Discover why nurses may be hesitant to discuss sexual wellbeing, as well as practical solutions to common challenges. Lastly the paper discusses the different models available to nurses to open up the conversation of sexual wellbeing in a respectful, patient centred and professional approach.
This poster questions how often female sexual dysfunction is discussed compared to male sexual dysfunction. The poster highlights the risks associated with colorectal surgery on female sexual wellbeing, offers tools to help nurses support females experiencing sexual dysfunction, as well as referral options and practical solutions.
See the posterGain insight into the lived experience of people with a stoma and discover how they have adapted to everyday life.
Intimacy with a stoma is such an important topic, yet one many of us can feel too uncomfortable to talk about.
Read their Story
Living with a stoma changes your life: physically, mentally and emotionally.
Read their Story
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your stoma surgery, you may have a number of questions to ask.
Read their Story Intimacy with a stoma is such an important topic, yet one many of us can feel too uncomfortable to talk about.
Read their Story Living with a stoma changes your life: physically, mentally and emotionally.
Read their Story Depending on the circumstances surrounding your stoma surgery, you may have a number of questions to ask.
Read their Story
