Endoscopy is only recommended when there is reason to do so. The reason for endoscopy may be related to personal past history (e.g. colonic polyps), family history (e.g. history of digestive cancer within the family), abnormal scan or blood results found incidentally or when one reaches a certain age which qualifies him or her to have a cancer screening colonoscopy done (e.g. > 50 yrs).
All the above reasons are not related to the presence of any symptom and they are by no means exhaustive.
However, if you are referring to having a scope done just to be sure, you will have to discuss with your endoscopist in detail regarding the risks involved and whether the risk is worth taking in your case. Most doctors will weigh the risks versus the benefits before performing any procedure.
In Singapore, screening colonoscopy is recommended for anyone above 50 years of age as the risk of colon cancer increases around the same time.
It has been shown that colonoscopy and polypectomy can reduce colon cancer-related deaths by more than 50%, making colonoscopy the screening method of choice in many developed countries around the world.
