Why a cystoscopy is used

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 not being able to pass urine or only being able to pass urine intermittently ("stop-start") 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, or previous test results suggest that you may do (such as abnormal urine test results). Conditions that a cystoscopy may be used to detect or monitor include: a narrowed or blocked urethra (urethral stricture); the urethra is the tube that carries urine out of the body serious or repeated urinary tractinfections polyps (non-cancerous growths) an enlarged prostategland bladder stones problems with the ureters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder) bladder cancer , as well as other cancers of the urinary tract Carrying out procedures Aurologist (specialist in treating bladder conditions) can carry out a number of medical procedures using surgical instruments passed downa 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 (small tube) into a narrowed ureter to help the flow of urine, or removing an existingstent injecting dye into the ureters up towards the kidneysthis will be highlighted on an X-ray and will help to identify problems such as a blockage or kidney stone injecting medication into the bladder or ureters for example, to treat a problem where urine flows up the ureters