Reasons to Be Excited for Your Colonoscopy

If the health benefits aren’t enough to get you jazzed up for a colorectal screening, consider these less well-known perks.

I turned 50 at the end of 2019. Needless to say, there are tons of great things about turning a half century old, like sweet AARP discounts, less hair to coif, people cutting you slack for nodding off in the middle of conversations, etc. But here’s a very underrated thing about turning 50: Colonoscopies! Seriously.

You probably know that getting a colonoscopy when you are my age has many health benefits, like increasing your odds of being around to see future seasons of the Great British Baking Show. But when I got my first colonoscopy this year I discovered there are oodles of other lesser-known upsides. So, if you’re due for one and aren’t exactly whistling a happy tune thinking about it, consider these other perks of the process:

• Your family and friends will (should!) throw you a colonoscopy shower (NOTE: This only applies to your first one). Don’t forget to fill out an Amazon gift registry for this memorable milestone!
• Need to end awkward chitchat with someone at a party? “Want to hear about my colonoscopy?” does the trick, like, 95% of the time (although, if it doesn’t, heads up that the…