Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a prevalent inflammatory bowel disease of the colonic mucosa affecting approximately 20,000-25,000 Danes. Apart from subgroups with early onset, extensive and long-standing inflammation, or primary sclerosing cholangitis the risk of developing colorectal cancer is of the same magnitude as in the background population. The symptoms are usually diarrhoea including bloody stools, rectal tenesmi, anaemia, and fatigue. This review is an update on diagnostics and treatment strategies of relevance for clinicians, and as UC often affects patients during their peak reproductive years, emphasis is additionally put on the management of pregnant patients with UC.