how often colonoscopy after 50

February 12, 2026

For most people at average risk, colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years starting at age 45–50 and continuing until about age 75, as long as prior results are normal and you are in good health.

Basic schedule after 50

If you are at average risk (no personal history of colon cancer or polyps, no inflammatory bowel disease, and no strong family history):

Start screening at age 45–50.

Have a colonoscopy every 10 years if each exam is normal.

Screening usually stops around age 75; from 76–85 it becomes an individual decision based on health and prior results.

A quick example: someone who has a normal colonoscopy at 50 might repeat at 60 and 70, then discuss whether another one at 80 makes sense given overall health.

When it should be more often

You may need colonoscopy more frequently than every 10 years if any of these apply:

Previous polyps: follow‑up can be as soon as 3–5 years, depending on number, size, and type of polyps removed.
Strong family history: a first‑degree relative (parent, sibling, child) with colorectal cancer or advanced polyps, especially if diagnosed before 60, often leads to starting earlier (around 40–45 or 10 years before their diagnosis age) and repeating about every 5 years.
Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s colitis): surveillance can be as often as every 1–3 years once you’ve had disease for several years.
Genetic syndromes (like Lynch syndrome or FAP): schedules can be as frequent as every 1–2 years, starting much younger.

Because these details change the interval a lot, your own doctor should translate your history into a specific timetable.

Age 75 and beyond

As people get older, the benefit of detecting a slow‑growing cancer can be outweighed by procedure risks like bleeding or perforation.

Around 75, many guidelines suggest considering stopping routine colonoscopy, especially if you’ve had several normal exams.
Between 76 and 85, decisions are individualized: health status, life expectancy, and personal preferences matter more than age alone.

An active 78‑year‑old with few medical problems and no prior colonoscopy might still be advised to have one, while a frail 78‑year‑old with multiple illnesses might be advised to stop.

“Quick Scoop” takeaway

Typical answer to “how often colonoscopy after 50?”
→ Every 10 years if you are average risk and your results are normal.

Go sooner and more often if you’ve had polyps, have a strong family history, inflammatory bowel disease, or a hereditary cancer syndrome.

After about 75, how often (or whether) to continue is a personalized call with your clinician.

Always confirm timing with your own doctor, who can adjust the interval to your personal risk and previous findings.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.