Cystoscopy

When you have a urinary problem, your doctor may want to use a cystoscope to see inside your bladder and urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. The cystoscope has lenses like a telescope that let the doctors see the inside of the urinary tract. The cystoscope is as thin as a pencil and has a light at the tip. Many cystoscopes have extra tubes to guide other instruments into the area, if necessary. Your doctor may recommend cystoscopy if you have had frequent urinary tract infections, blood in your urine, loss of bladder control, need for a bladder catheter, painful urination, chronic pelvic pain, urinary blockage such as prostate enlargement or stones, or unusual growths such as polyps, tumors or cancer.

Preparation
Usually there are no special instructions before the test; you can eat and drink normally before the test and after the test. You might be asked to give a urine sample before the test, just to check for infection, so try to avoid urinating for an hour before the test.

You will need to get undressed for the test, and the lower part of your body will be covered with a drape. Most of the time, you’ll lie on your back with your knees raised and apart. A nurse or technician will clean the area around your urethra (opening where urine leaves the body) and apply a local anesthetic.

What to expect
The doctor will gently insert the tip of the cystoscope into your urethra and slowly guide it up into the bladder. Relax your pelvic muscles as much as you can and it will make the test easier. Sterile water or saline will flow through the cystoscope to slowly fill your bladder and stretch it so that the doctor has a better view of the bladder. As your bladder fills, you will feel some discomfort and the urge to urinate. You will be able to empty your bladder as soon as the exam is over.

The time from the insertion of the cystoscope to removal may be only a few minutes, or it may be longer if the doctor finds a stone and decides to remove it. Taking a biopsy (a small tissue sample for examination under microscope) can also make the procedure last a little longer. In most cases, the entire exam, including preparation, will take about 15 to 20 minutes.

Afterward
You might have a mild burning feeling when you urinate and you might see small amounts of blood in your urine. This should not last more than 24 hours. Tell your doctor if bleeding or pain is severe or if these problems last more than a couple of days.

Drink two 8-ounce glasses of water each hour for 2 hours. Ask your doctor if you can take a warm bath to relieve the burning. If not, you may be able to hold a warm, damp washcloth over the urethral opening.

Your doctor may give you an antibiotic to take for a day or two to prevent an infection. If you have signs of an infection, including pain, chills or fever, tell your doctor.

Courtesy of National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse