What Happens During a Sigmoidoscopy?
Your lower colon is also known as your sigmoid colon. A sigmoidoscopy is an examination of your rectum and lower colon using a lighted instrument called a sigmoidoscope.
Preparing for the Test
To make sure you get the most accurate results, follow these guidelines when you prepare for the test.
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Don’t use products that contain aspirin or use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, also called NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, for 7 days before the test, as they can cause bleeding.
To get ready for the exam, you will need to have an enema to clean out your bowels.
During the Test
The sigmoidoscopy is performed in your doctor’s office and does not require you to be asleep. The process takes about 10 to 20 minutes.
To perform the exam, the doctor inserts the sigmoidoscope, which is about 2 feet long and about the diameter of your little finger, through your rectum and guides it into your lower colon. The doctor can then examine the lining of your colon by watching the images sent to a monitor. The scope will also blow air into your colon to inflate it, making it easier for the doctor to see. The air will give you an uncomfortable, bloated feeling, but it should not be painful. If the doctor finds a polyp or unusual tissue during the exam, a sample of it (called a biopsy) can be removed and examined. You will not feel it if the doctor does take a sample.
During the exam, you may feel the urge to move your bowels or even feel as if you are moving your bowels. This is a normal sensation caused by the passing scope and injected air. If you need to expel some air during the procedure, you should not be embarrassed. This is entirely normal.