Preparing for your colonoscopy.
Know what to expect, what to ask, and how to arrange the next step.
Before the examination
Follow your care team’s written preparation and medication instructions. Ask about cost, timing, sedation, and any health concerns. Good preparation helps your doctor see clearly.
During the examination
The clinician examines the colon and can remove detected polyps or take samples. Discuss sedation, comfort, privacy, and procedure risks beforehand.
After the examination
Follow your discharge restrictions. If sedated, arrange the required ride and supervision. Ask when you will receive pathology results and your next-exam recommendation.
Make your colonoscopy count
A complete exam should also be a careful exam.
Ask about preparation quality, whether the examination was complete, and follow-up based on your findings.
The guidance behind examination qualityOpen the quality checklist
Colonoscopy can miss lesions and has preparation, sedation, bleeding, perforation, and other burdens or risks. Some polyps require a separate removal procedure. Stool-based screening is a recommended option; a positive result requires colonoscopy.