Overview

What Is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disorder that affects the large intestine and rectum, causing bleeding. This chronic condition impacts more than 900,000 Americans. It can begin at any age, but it often starts in young adulthood. Older men are more likely to be diagnosed than older women.

There is no cure for ulcerative colitis, but with treatment, the majority of patients can be symptom-free for long periods of time.