What is a cystoscopy? How painful is it?

According to common understanding, the bladder is the place where urine is stored in the human body, but in fact the bladder plays a very important role. It not only stores urine, but also helps the body detoxify and excrete some body waste. If there is a problem with the bladder, you should go to the hospital for examination. So, what is a cystoscopy? How painful is it?

What is cystoscopy?

Cystoscopy is a method of directly observing lesions in the bladder and urethra by inserting a cystoscope through the urethra. The invention and application of cystoscopy has a history of more than 100 years. With the continuous development of science and technology, especially the application of optical fiber and wide-angle field technology in the past 20 years, the structure of cystoscopy has reached a new level of modernization, and a series of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopes such as pyeloscopes, ureteroscopes, electroresection scopes, laparoscopes and lithotripsy instruments have emerged, forming endourology, which has brought about a new situation and rapid progress in urology. Cystoscopy is becoming safer and less painful.

How painful is a cystoscopy?

Under the operation of a skilled urologist, most patients only need to use a little local anesthetic to complete this examination. Some female patients (with wide, short and straight female urethra) can even undergo cystoscopy without anesthesia. Only very few patients (especially those suspected of glandular cystitis) need to undergo this examination under intravenous general anesthesia.

Fiber-optic cystoscopy is less painful

If you still have concerns about cystoscopy and your financial situation allows, you can also find a hospital with fiber-optic electronic cystoscopes to undergo cystoscopy. Fiber-optic electronic cystoscopes have a wider range of observation, clearer images, and are thin and softer than ordinary cystoscopes. Of course, fiber-optic electronic cystoscopy is much less painful than ordinary cystoscopy.