A cystoscopy can be used to investigate problems with your bladder or urinary system, or it may be used as part of a medical procedure.
Investigating symptoms
You may need to have a cystoscopy if you experience symptoms that suggest there's something wrong with your bladder. For example:
- urinary incontinence – the involuntary passing of urine
- blood in your urine (haematuria)
- persistent pelvic pain
- pain or a burning sensation when you pass urine (dysuria)
- frequently needing to urinate
- having a sudden urge to urinate
- not being able to pass urine or only being able to pass urine intermittently (‘stop-start’)
- having a feeling that your bladder isn't completely empty after passing urine
Investigating conditions
A cystoscopy may also be needed if you have a condition that affects your urinary system, such as a bladder tumour or a blocked urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body).
Other conditions that a cystoscopy may be used to detect or monitor include:
- serious or repeated infections
- polyps (non-cancerous growths)
- enlarged prostate – where the prostate becomes enlarged
- bladder stones
- a narrowed or blocked urethra (urethral stricture)
- problems with the ureters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder)
Carrying out procedures
A urologist (specialist in treating bladder conditions) can carry out a number of medical procedures using surgical instruments that are passed down the side channels of the cystoscope. These include:
- removal of a stone from the bladder or ureter
- obtaining a urine sample from each of the ureters to check for an infection or tumour
- removing a sample of tissue for testing in cases of suspected bladder cancer (biopsy)
- inserting a stent (a small tube) into a narrowed ureter to help the flow of urine
- injecting dye into the ureters up towards the kidneys which will be highlighted on an X-ray and will help identify problems, such as a blockage or a kidney stone
