Flexible sigmoidoscopy

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is an examination of the rectum and the left side of the colon (the large bowel). You will be given an enema to clear the faeces out of the lower bowel before the test. The examination normally takes about 10 minutes and can be performed with or without sedation. Flexible sigmoidoscopy does not examine the whole colon, but has the advantages that full bowel preparation is not usually required and it may be more appropriate than colonoscopy in some situations.