Cystoscopy

What is a cystoscopy?

A cystoscopy is a procedure that allows a healthcare professional to look inside your bladder. It can be used to check what’s causing certain symptoms and treat some bladder conditions. In the procedure a long, thin tube with a small camera inside (cystoscope) is gently put into your urethra and moved through it into your bladder. The urethra is the tube that carries pee from your bladder out of your body.

Why have a cystoscopy?

A cystoscopy can be done to check what's causing your bladder symptoms, such as:

• blood in your pee
• urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• urinary incontinence
• pain in the lower part of your tummy (pelvic pain) that does not go away
• symptoms affecting your peeing, such as it hurting when you pee, peeing more than normal, or it not feeling like you've fully emptied your bladder after peeing

You might also have a cystoscopy to treat certain bladder conditions, a cystoscope can be used to:

• remove bladder stones
• help shrink the prostate if you have prostate enlargement
• inject medicines directly into the bladder, such as Botox for an overactive bladder
• repair damage to the bladder
• remove a sample of cells for testing (a biopsy)

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Preparing for a cystoscopy

There are 2 types of cystoscopy:

• a flexible cystoscopy – which uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera in, it’s bendy and is often used for checking bladder symptoms
• a rigid cystoscopy – which uses a straight tube with a camera inside, it does not bend and is often used to treat bladder conditions

You should be told what type of cystoscopy you're having and if there's anything you need to do to prepare.

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What happens during a cystoscopy?

Before the procedure you’ll be asked to empty your bladder by having a pee. You may be asked to give a urine sample at the same time to check for any infections. If you have an infection, the cystoscopy may need to be rescheduled.

Having a flexible cystoscopy

1. You’ll be asked to undress, behind a screen, from the waist down. You’ll be given a gown to wear.
2. You’ll be asked to lie down on a couch or bed.
3. A local anaesthetic gel will be used to numb the area around your urethra (the tube that carries pee from your bladder out of your body).
4. A thin, flexible tube with a camera inside (cystoscope) is gently put into your urethra and moved through it into your bladder.
5. A saline solution is pumped into your bladder to inflate it. This makes it easier to see inside.
6. The cystoscope is moved around inside your bladder to check it. The images are sent to a screen that you can watch if you want to.
7. Tools can be used through the cystoscope to remove a small sample of cells for testing (biopsy).
8. Once the test is complete the cystoscope is gently removed from your bladder.

A flexible cystoscopy usually takes around 10 to 15 minutes.

Having a rigid cystoscopy

1. You'll either be given a general anaesthetic (so you're asleep during the procedure), or have the lower half of your body numbed with anaesthetic given in your spine (spinal anaesthetic).
2. A tube with a camera inside (cystoscope) is gently put into your urethra and moved through it into your bladder.
3. A saline solution is pumped into your bladder to inflate it. This makes it easier to see inside and do any treatment.
4. Tools can be used through the cystoscope to remove a small sample of cells for testing (biopsy) or to treat certain conditions.
5. Any cuts made during testing or treatment are sealed and the cystoscope is gently removed from your bladder.

A rigid cystoscopy usually takes around 30 minutes.

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After a cystoscopy

If you’ve had a flexible cystoscopy, you can go home as soon as the procedure is complete. You can return to work and normal activities as soon as you feel able to.

If you’ve had a rigid cystoscopy you can usually go home once you recover from the effects of the anaesthetic, and you’re able to pee.

For most people, this takes a few hours.

If you've had a spinal or general anaesthetic, somebody needs to take you home and stay with you for 24 hours.

During this 24-hour period do not:

• drink alcohol
• drive
• operate heavy or complex machinery

You may have a small amount of blood in your pee for a few days after having a cystoscopy. It may also be painful when you pee.

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