What happens after the cystoscopy procedure?

Typically, a cystoscopy is done in the urologist’s office and

afterwards most patients go home the same day as the
procedure. Sometimes after a cystoscopy procedure, the patient
may:

 Feel a burning or soreness around the urethra.

 Feel slight burning while urinating.
 Notice small flecks of blood in the urine.
 Feel mild discomfort in the bladder area or kidney area
when urinating.
 Need to urinate frequently or urgently.

These problems should not last more than a day after the
procedure. If pain persists, bloody urine lasts longer than 48
hours, or the patient develops a fever, the patient should call the
doctor.

Occasionally, the patient may have an increase in urinary

frequency for the first 24 hours after the procedure. There may
be also a change in the color of the urine (it may be darker, or
look pink or red due to mild bleeding). This is common,
especially if a biopsy was taken.

After the procedure, the urologist may recommend that the

patient:

 Drink 16 ounces of water each hour for 2 hours after the

procedure.
 Take a warm bath to help ease the burning feeling.
 Place a warm, damp washcloth over the urethral opening to
relieve discomfort.
 Take an over-the-counter pain medicine.

If necessary, the urologist may prescribe an antibiotic to take for

a couple of days after the procedure to prevent an infection. If
you have severe pain, chills, or fever (these could be signs of an
infection), it is important to call the urologist’s office and explain
the symptoms.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
What are the risks of cystoscopy?

Every patient is different, and the urologist will take into

consideration each patient’s specific medical history when
explaining possible complications from the procedure. Although
minimal, the risks of cystoscopy may include:

 Urinary tract infections (UTI)

 Bleeding
 Abdominal pain
 Burning or discomfort during urination
 Possible injury to the urethra or bladder
 Narrowing of the urethra because of scar tissue formation
 Trouble urinating due to swelling of surrounding tissues

If any of the following symptoms occur after a cystoscopy, you

should call the urologist right away:

 Inability to urinate and the discomfort of a full bladder

 Burning or discomfort during urination that lasts more than
2 days
 Bright red urine or blood clots in the urine
 Fever
 Severe discomfort