Radiological study of changes in the pelvis in women following proctocolectomy

The vagina, uterus and adnexa of 21 women who had a proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis or Crohn's colitis were examined with vaginography and hysterosalpinography. Six healthy women were used as controls. A characteristic post-operative deformation of the adnexa and the vagina was demonstrated. In 17 of 21 women the fallopian tube anatomy was pathological, in four cases with total obstruction. These abnormalities explain why vaginal discharge, dyspareunia and involuntary sterility are common complaints in women after this type of surgery.