Before your appointment to have a cystoscopy, you will be sent information and instructions to follow.
If you're having a local anaesthetic you can eat and drink normally on the day of the appointment.
If you're having a spinal anaesthetic (epidural) or general anaesthetic, you won't be able to eat or drink for several hours before the procedure. Details of the exact number of hours will be included in the information leaflet that's sent to you.
Most prescription medication can be taken as usual on the day of your appointment. However, you may not be able to take aspirin, warfarin or ibuprofen, because they could cause excessive bleeding during the procedure.
If you're taking one of these medications, contact the hospital for advice before your appointment. You may have to temporarily stop taking the medication.
The cystoscopy procedure
In most cases, a cystoscopy can be performed on an outpatient basis, which means that you will be able to go home on the same day.
When it's time for you to have the procedure, you'll be asked to empty your bladder by going to the toilet, before changing into a surgery gown. You may also be given an injection of antibiotics to reduce your risk of developing a bladder infection.
If you are having a local anaesthetic, an anaesthetic gel or spray will be applied to your urethra to numb it. If you're having an epidural or general anaesthetic, you will be given an injection of anaesthetic.
The cystoscope is lubricated with a special gel before being gently inserted into your urethra and passed into your bladder. Sterile water will be pumped through the cystoscope to expand your bladder. This enables the urologist (specialist in treating bladder conditions) to get a clearer view inside your bladder.
The cystoscope is usually kept in your bladder for between two and 10 minutes.
What to expect during a cystoscopy
People are often concerned that having a tube inserted into their urethra and up into their bladder will be painful. A cystoscopy isn't usually painful but it may sometimes be uncomfortable.
If you're having a cystoscopy under a local anaesthetic, you may feel a burning sensation and an urge to urinate when the cystoscope is inserted into and then removed from your urethra.
You may also feel an uncomfortable sensation of fullness and a need to urinate when water is pumped into your bladder to expand it.
If you're having an epidural, you may feel a brief stinging sensation when the needle is inserted into your back, and you may experience some mild back pain after the procedure has been completed.
If you're having a general anaesthetic, you won't feel any pain during the procedure. However, you may experience mild symptoms of muscle pain and nausea after the cystoscopy.
Results
In some cases, the urologist will be able to discuss the results of your cystoscopy and any associated implications with you as soon as you recover from the anaesthetic. However, it can sometimes take a few days for the results to become available. If a biopsy (tissue sample) was taken, it may take several weeks for the results to come back.
Read more about recovering from a cystoscopy.
