A cystoscopy is a medical procedure that allows a doctor to examine the inside of the bladder and urethra using a thin camera called a cystoscope. The procedure is done by inserting the cystoscope into the urethra and slowly advancing it into the bladder. There are two main types of cystoscopes: flexible and rigid, and the type used depends on the reason for the procedure. A cystoscopy can be used to diagnose, monitor, and treat conditions affecting the bladder and urethra. Some of the reasons a cystoscopy may be recommended include:

• Blood in urine (hematuria)
• Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Painful urination (dysuria)
• Bladder control issues, such as urinary retention or incontinence
• Bladder stones
• Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
• Bladder cancer or urethral cancer

During the procedure, small surgical instruments can be passed down the cystoscope to treat certain bladder problems. A cystoscopy may be done in a testing room using a local anesthetic jelly to numb the urethra, as an outpatient procedure with sedation, or in the hospital during general anesthesia. The procedure itself usually takes around 5 to 20 minutes, but it can take longer if the doctor needs to take a tissue sample or remove something from inside the bladder.