Is a colonoscopy painful? What it actually feels like
The short answer
For most people a colonoscopy is not painful. With sedation you are relaxed and drowsy and many people remember little of it. Without sedation it is uncomfortable rather than painful: pressure and cramp, like wind, as the camera goes round the bends of the bowel. Most people say the preparation the day before was the worst part.
Book a colonoscopy, ₦450,000 all-inMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Before: the preparation
The laxative drink empties the bowel, which means a long evening near a toilet. It is not painful, but it is tiring and the taste is unpleasant. Following the diet properly beforehand makes it easier.
During: sedation and what you feel
You lie on your left side. A sedative is given into a vein in your hand or arm, and within a minute or two you feel relaxed and sleepy. You are not under a general anaesthetic and you keep breathing on your own, but many people drift in and out and remember little.
Air or gas is used to open the bowel so the camera can see. That stretching is what causes the cramp some people feel, and it passes quickly. Tell the team if you are uncomfortable: they can slow down, change your position or give more sedation.
Taking a sample (a biopsy) or removing a small polyp is not felt: the bowel lining has no pain nerves of the kind your skin has.
After: going home
You rest on a recovery bed for about an hour. Bloating and passing wind for a few hours is normal and is the air leaving. Because of the sedation someone must take you home, and you should not drive, sign anything important or drink alcohol for the rest of the day. Most people are back at work the next day.
When to call for help afterwards
Call us or go to an emergency department if you have severe or worsening abdominal pain, a fever, or more than a small amount of blood from the back passage in the days after the test.
What it costs on Mezo
One all-in price, paid online. Sedation, any biopsy and a doctor's review of the report are included.
Common questions
Will I be put to sleep?
Usually you are sedated, not put fully to sleep. You feel relaxed and drowsy and often remember little afterwards. A deeper sedation can be arranged at some centres if you are very anxious; ask when you book.
Can I have a colonoscopy without sedation?
Yes. Some people prefer it so they can drive home and go straight back to work. Expect cramp and pressure at points, and you can ask for sedation during the test if you change your mind.
Is a gastroscopy more painful than a colonoscopy?
Neither is usually painful. A gastroscopy is shorter, about five to fifteen minutes, and the main sensation is gagging as the camera passes the throat, which the throat spray and sedation reduce.
The procedures
Related health guides
More patient guides
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Colonoscopy. NHS. Patient information.
- Gastroscopy. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 13 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer:This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.