What Is It? Sigmoidoscopy is an examination of the bottom one-
third of your large intestine, including your rectum and the
bottom part of your colon. To do this exam, your doctor uses a
sigmoidoscope -- a flexible viewing tube with a light and a lens
or video camera on one end, and an eyepiece or video monitor on
the other. The sigmoidoscope allows your doctor to see the
inside of your bowel through fiber optic technology. During
sigmoidoscopy, your doctor can check for cancer, ulcers and
abnormal growths called polyps. The procedure usually takes less
than 15 minutes, and can be done in your doctor's office. There
is usually very little discomfort because the sigmoidoscope is
lubricated and bends easily. What It's Used For Sigmoidoscopy is
used to diagnose certain bowel problems such as unexplained
bleeding, diarrhea, constipation or rectal pain. If your doctor
sees a suspicious area, he can use an attachment at the end of
the sigmoidoscope to remove a piece of tissue and send it to the
laboratory to be exam