Because of stigmas, misinformation and social discomfort, ostomies often are not discussed. But with nearly 750,000 people living in the United States with one, it’s time for that dialogue to begin.

Sara Levitt on the beach; Sara Levitt with a full ostomy bag. Sara Levitt is breaking barriers in more ways than one. A lifelong battle with Crohn’s disease and years of living with an ostomy haven’t ...

Sara Levitt proudly carries her story of survival and self-love whenever she walks down the runway or poses for the camera. The 30-year-old model has been smashing stigmas in recent years, being an ...

SAGINAW, MI — Before Shontee R. McMillan was a model, she was self-conscious, depressed and suicidal as a result of a surgery that left her with an ostomy bag. She was diagnosed with rectal cancer in ...

"If we don't talk about it, if we don't teach people, how are they going to know to accept us for who we are?" says Jessica Grossman, who founded the nonprofit Uncover Ostomy Jessica Grossman was ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Courtesy of Renee Welsh Renee Welsh had a colostomy when she was 32 because of severe Crohn's disease. Now, she's built a TikTok ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A stoma is an opening from an area inside your body to the outside, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. (Photo: ...

Jearlean Taylor, a 51-year-old Baltimore model, said she has been embarrassed about her colostomy and urstomy bags since she was a child. Those who have had ostomy surgeries know there’s nothing ...

Paula Sojo tells PEOPLE she began sewing ostomy covers after her surgeries, transforming a medical device into an accessory meant to be celebrated ...

Nicola Dames is the owner of Vanilla Blush and is helping women with an ostomy to feel amazing about themselves. As an ostomate herself, Nicola has created a range of beautiful underwear specifically ...