Cystoscopy: What to Expect

A cystoscopy is a look inside the bladder using a thin scope passed through the urethra (the tube you urinate through). It is often done in the office with numbing gel and takes only a few minutes.

Warning signs

Before your procedure

You may be asked to give a urine sample first.
You will usually be given a preventive antibiotic to take beforehand — take it as directed.
You can usually eat and drink normally.

Most flexible cystoscopies need only numbing gel, and you can drive yourself. If you were told you will have sedation, arrange a ride.

The day of

Your care team places numbing gel, then gently passes the scope to look at the lining of the urethra and bladder. You may feel pressure and an urge to urinate. It is usually over in a few minutes, and you go home right away.

The first few days

For a day or two it is normal to have:

Burning or stinging when you urinate
A pink tinge or a small amount of blood in the urine
Needing to urinate more often or urgently

Drink extra water to flush the bladder and ease the burning. A warm bath can help. These symptoms usually settle within a day or two.

The first few weeks

Most people are back to normal within a couple of days. Your care team will share any findings and next steps with you.

When to call your care team

Call the office number on your discharge paperwork right away, or seek emergency care, if you have any of these:

Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or shaking chills
You cannot urinate at all
Bright red bleeding or clots that do not clear after a day, or that block urination
Burning or pain that gets worse instead of better after two days

If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or another life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Warning signs