A cystoscopy allows us to look at the lining of the bladder or urethra (the water pipe) using a narrow camera.
The image appears on a TV screen and you can see what is happening, if you wish to.
The procedure is used to find the cause of urinary symptoms. This could be regular infections, poor urinary flow or blood in the wee (haematuria).
It should mean we can make an accurate diagnosis. This helps us decide the best treatment plan for you.
It usually takes 5 minutes. For most people, we use a lubricating local anaesthetic jelly in the urology clinic.
The cystoscope is inserted into the urethra (the tube that carries urine). It is then used to fill the bladder with liquid. We can then look at the lining of the bladder.
Cystoscopy is what is called a minimally invasive procedure, but there are occasional complications. The risks are:
- Blood or debris in the urine
- Pain/discomfort when weeing after the procedure
- Urinary tract infection
You don’t need to do anything special. You can eat and drink as normal. You can take your regular medications. Please bring a urine (wee) sample with you.
Your urine (wee) may contain blood. You may be uncomfortable when weeing. This should settle within a day or so. You can take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed.
You will be told to drink extra fluids. You should at least 1 to 2 litres of water over the next 24 hours. Mild painkillers should be sufficient to help alleviate any discomfort.
If you have increasingly blood-stained urine, bladder pain or a burning sensation when you wee, you should contact your GP.