5How Long Does It Take For a Fecal Transplant to Work?
Previous studies and clinical trials have shown that a fecal transplant may help people with ulcerative colitis control their symptoms or even get remission only in four to eight weeks. Nevertheless, the sample sizes were relatively small. More research is still needed to find out how long it may take for a fecal transplant to work for ulcerative colitis in a large group of people. For treating C. diff, this procedure usually offers results in several hours or days. [6]
Possible Risks of Fecal Transplant
Stools contain many microorganisms. Therefore, a possible risk of fecal transplant is the spreading of infections. That’s why most hospitals and clinical centers will screen the stools of a donor to identify possible infections. The lifestyle, health, and genetics of donors would affect the response of the recipient to fecal transplant as well. When it is done with colonoscopy or nasoduodenal tube, the procedure may have similar risks as the setup of these tools. Some side effects in the short term include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea. It is rare to experience serious side effects, such as colon perforation, toxic megacolon, or severe infection. [7]
