US Medical Term · tests
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopía
Also: Colonoscopia (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Colonoscopy |
| Spanish (Español) | Colonoscopía |
| Chinese (中文) | 大腸鏡檢查 |
| Korean (한국어) | 대장 내시경 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Nội soi đại tràng |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Colonoscopy |
| Portuguese (Português) | Colonoscopia |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การส่องกล้องลำไส้ใหญ่ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 大腸内視鏡検査 |
What it means
A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a doctor uses a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera to examine the inside of your entire large intestine. Before the procedure, you must completely empty your colon using a bowel preparation — typically a laxative solution taken the day before. You will be given sedation so you will be drowsy or asleep and should feel little to no discomfort. The procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes. The doctor looks for polyps, cancer, inflammation, or other abnormalities. Polyps can often be removed during the same procedure. You will need someone to drive you home afterward. A colonoscopy is typically recommended starting at age 45 for average-risk adults.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
What do I need to drink for the bowel preparation the night before my colonoscopy?
¿Qué debo tomar para la preparación intestinal la noche antes de mi colonoscopía?
Will I be completely asleep during the colonoscopy?
¿Estaré completamente dormido durante la colonoscopía?
How long will it take me to recover from the colonoscopy sedation?
¿Cuánto tiempo me tomará recuperarme de la sedación de la colonoscopía?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026