Important: This page is general education, not personal medical advice.
What is cystoscopy?
Cystoscopy is a procedure where a thin camera (cystoscope) is passed through the urethra to examine the urethra and bladder lining. It helps diagnose causes of urinary symptoms, blood in the urine, recurrent infections, and other lower urinary tract concerns.
Why might I need cystoscopy?
- Evaluation of blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Recurrent urinary tract symptoms or infections
- Irritative urinary symptoms (urgency, frequency, dysuria) when cause is unclear
- Follow-up of prior bladder findings or procedures
What to expect during the procedure
- We usually perform cystoscopy with local analgesia or light IV sedation at the surgery center
- Flexible scope commonly used for diagnostic cystoscopy
- Typically brief procedure with same-day discharge
- You can usually resume normal daily activity quickly
Risks and side effects
- Temporary burning with urination
- Small amount of blood in urine for a short time
- Urinary urgency/frequency for 24–48 hours
- Urinary tract infection (uncommon)
- Rare urinary retention
Typical recovery timeline
- Day 0–1: mild urinary irritation can occur
- Day 1–2: most symptoms settle
- Follow-up: review findings and next-step plan with your urologist
Procedure video (educational)
Educational procedural video content.
Source video: educational flexible cystoscopy demonstration.
Questions to ask your urologist
- What are you specifically looking for in my case?
- Will this be done in-office or in a surgery center?
- What symptoms after cystoscopy are normal vs warning signs?
- What are the next steps if findings are normal or abnormal?