what age do you start getting colonoscopy

You typically start routine colonoscopy screening at age 45 if you’re at average risk for colorectal cancer, and then repeat about every 10 years if results are normal and your doctor agrees.

Quick Scoop: Key Ages

• Average-risk adults (no symptoms, no strong family history): start at 45.

• With a first‑degree relative (parent, sibling, child) who had colorectal cancer or advanced polyps: often earlier , usually 10 years before the age your relative was diagnosed (for example, if your dad was 50 at diagnosis, you may start at 40).

• Very high‑risk conditions (like certain genetic syndromes, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple family members affected): doctors may start screening in your 30s or even 20s , with more frequent checks.

• Stopping age: many guidelines suggest routine screening can usually stop around 75 , or be individualized between 76–85 based on health and prior results.

Bottom line: age 45 is now the standard starting line for most healthy adults, but your personal start age can be younger if your risk is higher.

Why the Age Dropped From 50 to 45

For years, 50 was the “classic” start age. Newer data showed more colorectal cancers appearing in people in their 40s, so major groups like the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended start age to 45 for average‑risk adults.

• Colorectal cancer is now one of the leading causes of cancer death in adults under 50.

• Screening can find and remove polyps (precancerous growths) years before they turn into cancer.

• Earlier screening aims to catch disease when it’s smaller, easier to treat, or prevent it altogether.

Think of it like moving the safety inspection on your car a bit earlier because more problems started showing up sooner.

How Family History Changes Things

If colon or rectal cancer “runs in the family,” your schedule often changes. Doctors look at:

• Who in your family was affected (parent/sibling/child vs more distant relatives).

• What age they were diagnosed (younger age usually = higher concern).

• How many relatives are affected and whether they had multiple or advanced polyps.

Common rule used in clinics:

• Start screening 10 years earlier than the youngest diagnosis in a first‑degree relative , or by 40, whichever comes first.

If multiple relatives are affected or if there’s a known hereditary syndrome, you’re often referred to a specialist and may need colonoscopies more frequently than every 10 years.

Other Screening Options (Not Just Colonoscopy)

While colonoscopy is considered the gold standard , other tests exist, especially for average‑risk people.

Common options:

• Stool‑based tests (like FIT or stool DNA tests) every 1–3 years , depending on the test.

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy or CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) at set intervals.

• If any of these are positive, you still need a follow‑up colonoscopy.

Some people start with stool tests in their mid‑40s and switch to colonoscopy later, but many specialists still recommend colonoscopy as the primary method when feasible.

What You Should Do Next

If you’re around 45 or older—or younger with risk factors—this is a good time to talk to your doctor about screening. You can ask:

1. “Given my age and family history, when should I start colon cancer screening?”
2. “Do you recommend a colonoscopy first, or could I start with a stool test?”
3. “How often would I need follow‑up tests if everything is normal?”

If you’re having symptoms (blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, new persistent bowel changes, abdominal pain), you should see a doctor as soon as possible, regardless of age, because that becomes a diagnostic evaluation, not just routine screening.

TL;DR:
Most people start colonoscopy at 45 , earlier if there’s strong family history or other high‑risk factors, with repeat exams roughly every 10 years if everything looks normal.

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