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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Colorectal Cancer Screening: Which test would I prefer?

Question 1 out of 7

Before a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy, you need to have a bowel prep, which involves drinking a laxative solution. The laxative will make you have loose bowel movements or diarrhea over a number of hours in order to clean out your bowels. This can get in the way of your normal activities the day and night before the test.

How much would it bother you to drink a laxative that makes you go to the bathroom a lot?