Your bowel must be empty, so that the doctor or nurse can see clearly inside it. You may be given a laxative or enema to take at home, or you may have an enema at the clinic.

The hospital will send you full details with your appointment letter. If in doubt, please ask.

What will happen to me during the test?

The endoscopist (doctor or nurse carrying out the test) will explain what is going to happen, and will answer any questions you have. S/he will ask you to sign a consent form to say that you agree to have the test done. S/he will also complete a health checklist with you.

You may need to change into a hospital gown. Alternatively you can wear loose, comfortable clothing.

You will go to a treatment room and lie on a couch, on your left-hand side. When you are ready, the doctor or nurse passes the sigmoidoscope into your rectum. Some air is put into the bowel. This expands the lining slightly, to give a clear view of the inside of the bowel. The pressure of the air may give you stomach pains or cramps.

The doctor or nurse may also take some samples of tissue (biopsies) from the lining of the bowel. These will go to the laboratory later.

Once your doctor or nurse has finished the examination s/he gently removes the sigmoidoscope, and the test is over. Most tests take around ten minutes, but some last a bit longer.

What about afterwards?

You will stay in the hospital for a little while, until the staff are sure you are well enough to go home. This shouldn’t take long.

You may have stomach cramps for a while because of wind in your bowel. It may help to have warm drinks at home, and to keep walking around.

If the doctor or nurse took tissue samples, you may pass a small amount of blood. This should settle down in a few days.

The hospital will give you a contact telephone number for further advice in case you have any problems.

Are there any risks?

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a safe test.

Rarely, it tears the bowel wall. This happens in fewer than one in every 2,000 tests, but patients may need urgent surgery if it does.

When will I get the results?

A copy of the results will be sent to the person who referred you for the test (usually your GP or hospital doctor).

Your doctor will arrange an appointment so that you can talk about the test results a few days later. If you don’t have a date for this, please ask.  

Where can I get more information?

Remember, your doctors and nurses are there to help you. If you have any questions about your symptoms or your sigmoidoscopy, don’t be afraid to ask.