Your doctor may recommend endoscopy to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases, disorders and conditions. A common reason to have an endoscopy is to take a tissue biopsy. A biopsy involves removing samples of tissues to examine for disease or malignancy. Other reasons for endoscopy include: Abdominal, gynecologic and pelvic organ conditions, such as abdominal pain, hernias, appendicitis, infertility, gallbladder disease, spleen trauma, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, and abdominal or pelvic tumors or cancer. Joint and orthopedic conditions, such as acute or chronic joint injuries and pain, joint inflammation, torn cartilage or ligaments, rotator cuff conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic dislocations, and loose bone or cartilage. Lower gastrointestinal conditions, such as anemia, lower abdominal pain, colon polyps, colorectal cancer screening, rectal bleeding or bloody stools, and intestinal diseases, such as diverticulosis and diverticulitis (intestinal pockets that can develop over time and become infected). Lung and airway conditions, such as lung abscess, lung cancer or tumor, coughing up blood, foreign object, fluid or substance in the airway, airway infections, chronic cough, atelectasis (lung collapse), and interstitial lung disease (inflammation of deep lung tissues). Upper gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, such as upper abdominal pain, vomiting blood, difficulty swallowing, gastric reflux, anemia, tumors, polyps, foreign objects, esophageal varices, esophageal cancer, and peptic ulcers. Urinary system conditions, such as kidney stones, pelvic pain, enlarged prostate, urethral stricture, abnormal cells in urine, frequent urinary tract infections, and painful, frequent, or bloody urination. Ask your doctor about all of your treatment options and consider getting a second opinion before deciding on an endoscopy.