Cystoscopy
Urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and voiding disorders affect millions of women every year.
Cystoscopy, or cystourethroscopy, is a procedure that enables the urologist or urologic surgeon to view the inside of your urinary bladder and lining of the urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body).
If you are suffering from urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, voiding disorder or other urogynecological conditions, there is no need to feel alone or hesitant about discussing your problem with the urogynecological team at Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center. We have the expertise, diagnostic equipment and therapeutic options to help you.
Cystoscopy Procedure
A cystoscopy is a simple procedure that generally takes between 10 – 30 minutes. It can be completed in the doctor’s office with only a local anesthetic or performed either as an outpatient procedure or in a hospital.
The urologist will use a cystoscope which is a long, thin instrument with an eyepiece on the external end. It is equipped with a small lens that magnifies the inner lining of the urethra and bladder. Some cystoscopes have extra channels within the tube to insert other small instruments that can be used to treat or diagnose urinary problems.
Once the cystoscope is inserted, water or saline is then instilled into the bladder. The bladder wall will then become stretched which allows the urologist a very detailed view of the area. Normally the bladder wall will be smooth and be normal in shape and size. If this is not the case or if there appear to be blockages, a small sample of tissue can be removed at this time to be analyzed.
A urologist may perform a cystoscopy to find the cause of many urinary conditions including:
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Incontinence
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Frequent urinary tract infections
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Chronic pelvic pain
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Painful bladder syndrome
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Blood in the urine
This procedure may also be performed in order to:
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Evaluate problems that cannot be seen on x-ray
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Remove tissue samples for biopsy
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Place ureteral catheters
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Treat urinary tract problems (bleeding, stones, tumors)