Start at 45. Repeat every 10 years. That's the short version. But your personal timeline may differ based on family history, prior findings, or risk factors. Here's how to figure out when your next screening should be.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
Based on current USPSTF and American Cancer Society recommendations.
| Age | Recommendation | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Under 45 | Screen earlier if family history or symptoms | Per doctor's guidance |
| 45 to 75 | Routine screening recommended | Every 10 years (colonoscopy) or more often with alternatives |
| 76 to 85 | Selective screening based on individual factors | Shared decision with your doctor |
| Over 85 | Screening generally not recommended | N/A |
These guidelines apply to adults at average risk. "Average risk" means no personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps, no inflammatory bowel disease, and no first-degree relatives diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Between 1995 and 2019, colorectal cancer incidence in adults under 50 increased by about 2% per year (American Cancer Society, 2024). Diagnoses among people in their 40s rose fast enough that both the ACS (in 2018) and the USPSTF (in 2021) lowered the recommended starting age to 45.
If you turned 45 recently and haven't scheduled your first screening, you're not alone. Many people still think the cutoff is 50 because that was the guideline for decades. But the data shifted, and so did the recommendation.
If any of the following apply to you, talk to your doctor about starting colonoscopy screening before age 45.
A first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) diagnosed with colorectal cancer or advanced polyps. Screen 10 years before their age at diagnosis, or at 40, whichever comes first.
If previous colonoscopies found adenomatous polyps, your doctor will recommend shorter intervals, typically every 3 to 5 years depending on polyp size and count.
Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis increases colorectal cancer risk. Screening usually starts 8 years after diagnosis and repeats every 1 to 3 years.
Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) require screening as early as the teens or 20s. Genetic counseling can determine your specific schedule.
Colonoscopy isn't the only screening method, but it is the most thorough. It's the only test that can both find and remove polyps in the same session. Other options work well for ongoing monitoring, but a positive result on any of them still requires a follow-up colonoscopy.
| Test | Frequency | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Colonoscopy | Every 10 years | Can detect and remove polyps in one session |
| FIT (stool test) | Every year | Positive result requires follow-up colonoscopy |
| Cologuard (stool DNA) | Every 3 years | Positive result requires follow-up colonoscopy |
| CT colonography | Every 5 years | Finds polyps but can't remove them |
| Flexible sigmoidoscopy | Every 5 years | Only examines the lower third of the colon |
Whichever method you choose, the important thing is choosing one and sticking to the schedule. For more on the parent topic, see our main colonoscopy screening reminder page.
Age 45 for people at average risk. Both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society updated their recommendations from age 50 to age 45 in 2021, driven by rising colorectal cancer rates in younger adults.
Every 10 years if your results are normal and you have no additional risk factors. If polyps are found, your doctor will typically recommend a follow-up in 3 to 5 years depending on the type and number of polyps.
The USPSTF recommends routine screening through age 75. From 76 to 85, screening is a shared decision based on your health, life expectancy, and prior screening history. After 85, screening is generally not recommended.
Yes. If a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, you should start screening 10 years before their age at diagnosis, or at age 40, whichever comes first. Some guidelines recommend every 5 years in these cases.
The recommended starting age dropped from 50 to 45 for average-risk adults. This change was prompted by a significant increase in colorectal cancer diagnoses among people in their 40s and even 30s over the previous two decades.
The screening age and frequency recommendations are the same regardless of sex. However, men have a slightly higher overall incidence of colorectal cancer, which means sticking to the schedule matters for everyone.
Whether your next screening is in 3 years or 10, set a reminder now and stop trying to remember it yourself. You'll get notified days before your target date.
Set My Screening ReminderLast modified: