If you’re facing urinary tract issues, your healthcare provider might recommend a cystoscopy. While the name might sound intimidating, this simple yet effective procedure gives your provider a clear view inside your bladder and urethra to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions. Here’s what you need to know to feel prepared, informed, and at ease.*

Why You Might Need a Cystoscopy

Your provider may suggest a cystoscopy if you’re experiencing symptoms such as:

• Blood in your pee, 
• Painful urination, 
• Difficulty urinating, or 
• Involuntary leaks. 

This procedure allows your provider to inspect the inside of your bladder and urethra using a cystoscope—a thin, lighted tube with a lens or camera.

It’s used not just to observe but also to diagnose serious conditions like bladder cancer or identify issues like bladder stones, infections, or urethral strictures. During the procedure, your provider might also take urine samples, perform biopsies, or even treat certain issues on the spot by removing tumors or injecting medication.

What to Expect Before and During the Procedure

Before your cystoscopy, it’s important to follow your provider’s instructions closely. You might need to:

• Stop eating for several hours (especially if sedation is involved), 
• Provide a urine sample to rule out infection, or 
• Pause certain medications. 

Make arrangements for someone to drive you home if you’ll be sedated.

During the procedure, your provider will insert a lubricated cystoscope through your urethra into your bladder. They might use a flexible or rigid scope depending on what needs to be done. You’ll likely be awake if it’s a diagnostic procedure, thanks to a numbing gel. For more involved procedures like biopsies or tumor removal, sedation or general anesthesia may be used.

The scope fills your bladder with sterile saline, which might make you feel like you need to pee. This stretching helps your doctor get a clear view of the bladder lining. The procedure itself typically takes just 5 to 10 minutes unless further treatment is required.

Aftercare, Recovery, and Possible Risks

You’ll probably go home the same day, although some people stay overnight depending on the complexity of the procedure. Mild side effects are normal and usually resolve within a couple of days. You might experience:

• Slight bleeding, 
• Burning during urination, or 
• Bladder spasms. 

Drinking lots of water, applying a warm compress, or taking OTC pain relievers can help ease discomfort.

While cystoscopy is generally safe, contact your provider if you notice:

• Heavy bleeding, 
• Severe pain, 
• Fever, or 
• Signs of infection like cloudy or foul-smelling pee.

Your provider will either share the results immediately or schedule a follow-up, especially if you had a biopsy (which may take up to two weeks for lab results).

Cystoscopy is a quick, low-risk way for your healthcare provider to get critical insights into your urinary tract health. Knowing what to expect before, during, and after the procedure can help you feel more confident and empowered in your care. 

*Cleveland Clinic. (2024, January 29). Cystoscopy. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/16553-cystoscopy  

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