Microscopic Colitis Awareness Week

Microscopic Colitis Awareness Week takes place in April every year.

Microscopic Colitis (MC) is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This group includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Microscopic colitis causes inflammation in the bowel.

What is microscopic colitis?

Microscopic Colitis (MC) is characterised by watery diarrhoea, usually accompanied by urgency and problems with bowel control. People affected often need to identify where the nearest toilets are before leaving the house to avoid accidents and in some cases, some people are unable to leave the house. The severity of symptoms differs from person to person and can sometimes lead to a substantial decline in their quality of life.

At Guts UK Charity, we provide expert patient information for microscopic colitis. Our wonderful community help us to raise awareness by having vital conversations about their guts. They empower those around them to seek help when something isn’t right. You can help us on that mission today.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF MICROSCOPIC COLITIS?

There are 17,000 new cases of microscopic colitis diagnosed each year. But the real number is thought to be much higher. Scientists estimate that 67,000 people in the UK are living with microscopic colitis. That’s at least 1 in 1,000 adults. Microscopic colitis is underreported and misdiagnosed, but even so, cases are on the rise globally. This is why it’s important to raise awareness among the public and health professionals too. Diagnosis means treatment can finally begin.

There are treatments available for this condition but sometimes, microscopic colitis may not even be considered as a diagnosis. People are suffering. Many are suffering in silence and feel hopeless. You can help change that by helping Guts UK to raise awareness today.

Guts UK is committed to:

• Raising awareness of the symptoms of microscopic colitis, empowering people to stop suffering in silence and reach for help sooner.
• Funding life-changing research into microscopic colitis, working towards earlier diagnoses and therefore quicker treatment.
• Providing expert information on microscopic colitis to patients and families. Knowledge is power. We help to get information into the hands of those who need it most, when they need it most.

DIANE’S STORY

“Suddenly, I couldn’t go anywhere if there wasn’t a toilet in sight. There was no warning; I’d feel an urge to go to the toilet and within seconds, I’d be passing watery stools.”

Diane was diagnosed with microscopic colitis in February 2025, four months after first experiencing symptoms. Now, she’s urging others to get checked out if something doesn’t seem right.

“You know when something is wrong. I know it might feel embarrassing and that might stop people from getting help, but know that help is there, and life can return to normal.” Read Diane’s full story here.

SARAH’S STORY

“I battled with symptoms for seven years before recieving my microscopic colitis diagnosis.” 

Sarah was diagnosed with microscopic colitis in 2023, after seven years of managing the undiagnosed condition.

“In 2017, around eighteen months after our youngest was born, I started experiencing stomach pain, urgency to go to the toilet, and a lot of wind. Often, I’d pass mucus but not much stool. Then other times, I’d have watery diarrhoea.” – Read Sarah’s full story here.

LORNA’S STORY

“In October 2023, I resigned from my job. I couldn’t bear not being able to give the service to my patients that I wanted to. It was like giving up a big part of myself.”

Lorna was diagnosed with microscopic colitis in 2023, after initially thinking she had food poisoning.

“I couldn’t eat without everything going straight through me. I lost two and a half stone in weight. If I went out, I had to make sure I was near a toilet. I’d even wake up at night with urgency. When I’m having a flare-up, I can’t plan anything with anyone because it’s so unpredictable.” – Read Lorna’s full story here.

HOW CAN I HELP?

• You can help reach those suffering in silence and alone. Please consider donating £3 a month to Guts UK. Thank you.
• Share far and wide! This week we will be spreading awareness across all our social media channels. Scroll to the bottom of this article to discover our socials and spread the word. You can even fill in and submit our story-sharing form to register your interest in sharing your story with Guts UK, our community and beyond. You never know who we may reach together.
• Fundraise for Guts UK. Whether you donate your birthday, run, walk, bake or shave your beard – our small but mighty gut army takes us one step closer to getting to grips with guts each day.

Support for this campaign has been provided by Dr Falk Pharma UK Ltd. Find out how Guts UK works with the pharmaceutical industry here.