What Type of Ostomy Do I Have? A Complete Guide to Colostomies, Ileostomies, and Urostomies

Written by the Parthenon Ostomy Care Team | Medically reviewed in consultation with Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCNs) | Last updated July 2026

If you're asking this question, you're in good company. It's one of the most common questions our ostomy specialists hear — often from people who were sent home from the hospital with supplies but not always a clear explanation of exactly what kind of ostomy they have or why it matters. Knowing your ostomy type isn't just semantics: it determines what output to expect, which pouching systems will actually work for you, and how to shop for supplies without guessing.

This guide walks through how to identify your ostomy type, what to expect from each one, and which supplies typically go with it.

The Three Main Types of Ostomy, at a Glance

Location is a helpful clue but not a guarantee — surgeons place stomas based on individual anatomy, so the most reliable way to know your type is your discharge paperwork, operative report, or a quick question to your surgeon or WOCN nurse. If you don't have that paperwork, the guide below can help you narrow it down by what you're actually seeing.

Colostomy: Diversion of the Large Intestine

A colostomy diverts the colon (large intestine) through an opening in the abdominal wall. Because the colon's job is to absorb water and form stool, colostomy output is typically more formed than other ostomy types — ranging from soft and mushy to more solid, depending on where along the colon the stoma is placed.

Subtypes, by location:

• Ascending colostomy — early in the colon; output is more liquid, closer to ileostomy output
• Transverse colostomy — mid-colon; output is looser, unformed
• Descending or sigmoid colostomy — later in the colon (most common placement); output is more formed and often more predictable, sometimes allowing for irrigation-based management

What this means for supplies: Because output is more formed and often less frequent, many people with a sigmoid or descending colostomy use closed-end pouches that are simply discarded and replaced, rather than drained. Some choose colostomy irrigation to manage output on a schedule, which can reduce the number of pouch changes needed.

Shop colostomy-appropriate supplies: Closed-End Pouches · Irrigation Products · Skin Barriers

Ileostomy: Diversion of the Small Intestine

An ileostomy diverts the ileum (the last section of the small intestine), bypassing the colon entirely. Because the colon's water-absorbing function is skipped, ileostomy output is loose to watery and continuous — there's no "schedule" to it the way there sometimes is with a colostomy.

What this means for supplies: Watery, frequent, and often higher-volume output means most people with an ileostomy use drainable pouches rather than closed-end ones, so the pouch can be emptied multiple times a day without being replaced. Output is also more corrosive to skin due to digestive enzymes still present at that point in the intestine, which makes skin protection and correct fit especially important — this population sees leak-related skin irritation more often than colostomy or urostomy patients, and it's usually the first thing to troubleshoot if things aren't going well.

Shop ileostomy-appropriate supplies: Two-Piece Drainable Pouches · Skin Barrier & Protectant Products · Output Gelling Agents/Absorbents

Urostomy: Diversion of the Urinary Tract

A urostomy reroutes urine flow, most commonly through an ileal conduit (a short segment of small intestine used to channel urine to the stoma, separate from the digestive tract) after the bladder is removed or bypassed due to disease. Output is urine, continuous, and because the conduit uses intestinal tissue, some mucus in the output is normal.

What this means for supplies: Urostomy pouches are purpose-built with an anti-reflux valve to keep urine from flowing back toward the stoma (which increases infection risk) and typically a spout/tap for draining into a toilet or connecting to a night drainage bag for overnight use, so you're not getting up repeatedly to empty a standard pouch.

Shop urostomy-appropriate supplies: Two-Piece Urostomy Pouches · Urostomy Accessories & Night Drainage

Not Sure Which One You Have? Here's How to Find Out

1. Check your discharge paperwork or operative report — the surgery name (e.g., "sigmoid colostomy," "ileal conduit urostomy") tells you directly.
2. Look at your output. Continuous and watery with no solid content → likely ileostomy. Continuous and clearly urine → urostomy. More formed, less frequent → likely colostomy.
3. Ask your ostomy nurse or surgeon's office — this is completely normal to ask, even well after surgery, and they'll have your operative notes on file.
4. Call us. Our team can often help narrow it down based on your pouch type and output description, though we'll always point you to your medical team to confirm — we're supply specialists, not a substitute for your clinical care team.

Temporary vs. Permanent: A Separate Question

Any of the three types above can be temporary (created to let part of the digestive or urinary tract heal, with reversal planned) or permanent. This doesn't change what supplies you need day-to-day, but it's worth confirming with your surgical team so you know what to expect long-term.

Why Getting the Type Right Matters for Supplies

Ordering the wrong pouch type is one of the most common — and most avoidable — causes of leaks, skin irritation, and wasted money we see. A closed-end pouch on a high-output ileostomy will need constant replacing; a standard drainable pouch without an anti-reflux valve isn't appropriate for a urostomy. If you're ever unsure whether a product is right for your specific ostomy type, our team is happy to help you double check before you order — call us at 1-800-453-8898 or use our live chat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than one type of ostomy at once? It's uncommon but possible in complex cases (for example, both a urostomy and a colostomy). If that applies to you, treat each stoma according to its own type when choosing supplies.

Does the side my stoma is on tell me what type it is? It's a loose clue, not a rule — left side is more commonly associated with colostomies and right side with ileostomies and urostomies, but surgeons place stomas based on individual anatomy, so don't rely on location alone.

My output looks different than what's described here — is something wrong? Output consistency can vary with diet, medication, illness, and time since surgery even within the same ostomy type. If output changes suddenly or you're concerned, contact your WOCN nurse or physician rather than self-diagnosing.

Is a "stoma" the same thing as an "ostomy"? The stoma is the opening itself (the visible part on your abdomen); the ostomy is the surgical procedure/diversion as a whole. People often use the terms interchangeably in conversation.

Related reading: Ostomy Appliance Leak Guide · Travel With an Ostomy · 9 Tips to Prepare for Work After Ostomy Surgery

Not sure which supplies match your ostomy type? Call our specialists at 1-800-453-8898 — we've been helping people get this right since 1961.