Scoping tests

A colonoscopy lets your doctor look at the lining of the entire large bowel. Before the procedure, you will have a bowel preparation to clean your bowel. It is very important to follow the instructions – the cleaner the bowel is, the more likely it is that the doctor will see any small growths (polyps) or other areas of concern.

Most colonoscopies are done as day surgery at a hospital. On the day of the procedure, you will usually be given a sedative or light anaesthetic so you don’t feel any discomfort or pain. This will also make you drowsy and may put you to sleep. A colonoscopy usually takes about 20–30 minutes.

Most colonoscopies are done as day surgery at a hospital. On the day of the procedure, you will usually be given a sedative or light anaesthetic so you don’t feel any discomfort or pain. This will also make you drowsy and may put you to sleep.

A colonoscopy usually takes about 20–30 minutes.

During the procedure, the doctor will put a colonoscope (a flexible tube with a camera on the end) through your anus and up into the rectum and colon. Carbon dioxide or air will be passed through the colonoscope to inflate the colon and make it easier for the doctor to see the bowel.

If the doctor sees any abnormal or unusual-looking areas, they will remove a sample of the tissue. This is known as a biopsy. They will also remove any polyps (polypectomy). A pathologist will examine the tissue or polyps under a microscope to check for signs of cancer and may look for specific gene changes (see Molecular testing).

You will need to have someone take you home afterwards, as you may feel drowsy or weak, and you shouldn’t drive for at least 24 hours after the procedure. The gas used to inflate the bowel during the test can sometimes cause bloating and wind pain.

Rare complications include damage to the bowel (perforation), damage to the spleen or bleeding. Your doctor will talk to you about the risks.

A colposcopy is a way of looking closely at the cervix and vagina to see if there are any abnormal or changed cells. It is done by a colposcopist, who is usually a gynaecologist, gynaecological oncologist or, in some clinics, a nurse practitioner.

A colposcopy takes only about 10–15 minutes. You will usually be advised not to have sex or put anything in your vagina (e.g. tampons) for 24 hours before the procedure.

A colposcopy is done with an instrument called a colposcope, which is a microscope with a light. The colposcope is placed near your genital area (vulva) but does not enter your body. You will lie on your back in an examination chair with your knees up and apart.

The colposcopist will use a speculum to spread the walls of your vagina apart, and will usually apply a vinegar-like liquid and iodine to your cervix and vagina. This makes it easier to see any abnormal cells through the colposcope. You may feel a mild stinging or burning sensation, and you may have a brown discharge from the vagina after the procedure.

If the colposcopist sees any abnormal-looking areas during the colposcopy, they may take a tissue sample (biopsy) from the surface of the cervix. You may feel some pain for a short time while the tissue sample is taken.

You will be able to go home once the colposcopy and biopsy are done. The tissue sample is sent to a laboratory, and a pathologist will examine the cells under a microscope to see if they are abnormal (precancer or cancer). The results are usually available in about one week.

After the procedure, it is common to have cramping that feels similar to pain you may have with your period (menstrual pain). This may last a short time and can be relieved with mild pain medicines such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. You may also have some light bleeding or other vaginal discharge for up to a week.

To give the cervix time to heal and to reduce the risk of infection, your colposcopist may advise you not to have sexual intercourse or use tampons for a certain amount of time after the procedure.

This procedure is used to look inside the body for any abnormal areas. It is done with an endoscope – a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end.

The endoscope is put into the body through a natural opening (such as the mouth) or a small cut made by the surgeon. The camera projects images onto a monitor so the doctor can see inside the body. If they see something suspicious, they can also take a tissue sample (biopsy) using the endoscope.