Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis care at Mayo Clinic

Your Mayo Clinic care team

Treating ulcerative colitis involves specialists in gastroenterology and hepatology, colon and rectal surgery, radiology, laboratory medicine and pathology, and rheumatology, as well as skin and wound care and nutrition.

Having all this expertise in a single place means that your care is discussed among the team, test results are available quickly, appointments are scheduled in coordination and the most highly specialized experts in the world are all working together for your health.

Advanced diagnosis and treatment

Mayo Clinic surgeons have experience diagnosing and treating ulcerative colitis using the most current management and surgical techniques. Mayo's colorectal surgeons are committed to using minimally invasive surgical procedures, which are associated with less pain and fewer complications.

If you have ulcerative colitis, you'll need regular screening for colon cancer because of your increased risk. Mayo Clinic doctors use chromoendoscopy technology to screen for colorectal cancer. Compared with conventional colonoscopy, chromoendoscopy has been shown to be more effective in differentiating between noncancerous and cancerous lesions.

Pediatric expertise

Pediatric experts at Mayo Clinic's Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic specialize in providing the care that children require for ulcerative colitis, including diagnostic tests that don't expose children to radiation and alternative medicines that reduce the need for steroids.

Ulcerative colitis often takes an even greater physical and emotional toll on young people, slowing their growth. At Mayo Clinic, young people and their families work closely with psychologists who can help them navigate the day-to-day difficulties of living with ulcerative colitis.

Specialized pregnancy care

Women with ulcerative colitis can usually have successful pregnancies, especially if they can keep the disease in remission during pregnancy. It's important to work with a high-risk obstetrician and a gastroenterologist specializing in ulcerative colitis. Mayo Clinic doctors have expertise and experience guiding women with ulcerative colitis through pregnancy and delivery.

Expertise and rankings

Experience

Each year, Mayo Clinic doctors diagnose and treat around 4,000 adults and children who have ulcerative colitis.

Expertise

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic at Mayo Clinic focuses specifically on people with ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases. In addition to routine clinical care, Mayo Clinic doctors are actively involved in research and can provide investigational drug therapy with a variety of drugs for patients who do not respond to standard medical therapy.

Research

Mayo Clinic research scientists and doctors are continually developing new methods for diagnosing and treating ulcerative colitis. For example, Mayo colorectal surgeons pioneered the procedure to remove the diseased colon and rectum and reconnect the intestines to the anus, called ileoanal anastomosis (J-pouch) surgery, so that a person can continue to eliminate wastes in the usual manner. Mayo Clinic patients also have access to clinical trials of new treatments for ulcerative colitis.

For qualified patients, Mayo Clinic colorectal surgeons offer the continent ileostomy procedure, also known as the Koch pouch. This procedure allows you more control over bowel elimination and removes the need to wear a bag outside the body.

Mayo's Center for Cell Signaling in Gastroenterology (C-SIG) focuses its research on mechanisms of cellular and molecular processes in a variety of digestive diseases, including ulcerative colitis.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, ranks No. 1 for digestive disorders in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for digestive disorders by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2024–2025 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:

Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.