Explanation

Endoscopy means looking inside you to find out what is wrong - 'endo' just means inside and 'scopy' means looking. Doctors do this using an endoscope, which is a long, thin tube with a camera on the end.

Endoscopy lets doctors take pictures of your insides and see what's going on, so they can find out more about what might be causing your symptoms. It also lets them take a biopsy that can then be looked at more closely down a microscope.

Why do I need one?

There are lots of different reasons why you need to have endoscopy, and there are also different types of endoscopy for different parts of your body. So, for example, colonoscopy lets doctors look at your colon, and gastroscopy shows doctors the inside of your stomach and upper part of your gastrointestinal tract.

What happens before I have it?

This depends on the type of endoscopy you're having. You may be asked to eat a special diet and take a laxative before the test. A laxative is just something that will make you do a poo.

How is it done?

The doctor will probably give you a sedative (something to make you feel very sleepy and relaxed) and will then pass the endoscope into your body. This will be through your mouth, nose or bottom, depending on what part of your body he or she wants to see from the inside.

Will it hurt?

No. Endoscopy does not hurt at all, but you may feel sleepy because of the sedative.

Could it cause any problems afterwards?

Endoscopy doesn't usually cause problems afterwards, but it can sometimes hurt the inside of your body where it has gone in, so you should tell your doctor immediately if you don't feel well after having it.

What if I have any more questions?

If you have any other questions, you can ask your doctor, or chat to other people about endoscopy in the Medikidz forums and virtual world, Mediland.