Does a sigmoidoscopy hurt? my doctor told me i wont get any sedation for my sigmoidoscopy, but my friend had sedation for his colonoscopy. does that mean a sigmoidscopy hurts less?

A : A flexible sigmoidoscopy can be painful, but is often less painful than a colonoscopy and is a much shorter exam (usually just 5 minutes or so), versus a colonoscopy, which usually lasts 20-30 minutes. Though many patients do choose to have flexible sigmoidoscopy without sedation, many other patients request sedation even for this shorter exam. The advantages to having no sedation can include eliminating the risks of sedation reactions and the ability to return to driving and work immediately after the procedure. Patients that undergo sedation for their sigmoidoscopy will have to refrain from driving, work and making important decision for about 24 hours. They will also need to arrange a ride home after receiving sedation.

Less uncomfortable: Different patients have different perceptions of pain. That being said, a sigmoidoscopy is generally less uncomfortable because they insert the instrument not nearly as far as with a colonoscopy. Consequently, they don't have to expand the inside of your colon with as much air during sigmoidoscopy which is generally the uncomfortable part. Sigmoidoscopy is commonly performed without sedation.