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A cystoscopy is an examination of the bladder and the tube that carries urine out of the body (urethra).

What is a cystoscope?

A cystoscope is a thin telescope. A surgeon passes it through the urethra into the bladder. The surgeon can look down the cystoscope and view images on a monitor to see if there is any anomality.

How can a cystoscopy help my child?

A cystoscopy can help find the cause of symptoms such as:

  • difficulty in passing urine
  • frequent urinary tract infections
  • blood in urine (haematuria)
  • urinary incontinence
  • ongoing pain when passing urine

What are the risks of having a cystoscopy?

Most cystoscopies are successful, and most people have few or no symptoms afterwards. After the test, your child might feel a bit of a burning sensation when they pass urine and feel like they need to urinate more often than usual. This will probably last for about 24 hours. Also, the urine may look pink because of minor bleeding, which stops on its own. Sometimes, children can get urinary tract infections. So, we only do cystoscopies (looks inside the bladder and urethra) when we are giving antibiotics and your child is asleep.

What should I expect after a cystoscopy

If your child's urine is pink, it should gradually become clearer. If your child has symptoms of incontinence, they should get better over time. If there is frequent urination after the cystoscopy, urine frequencies should go back to normal. If your child feels a burning sensation, it should get less.

What is important after a cystoscopy?

Make sure your child drinks enough. If your child has had another operation, follow the surgeon's advice about getting them mobilised.

If your child has a fever after the cystoscopy, please see your GP for a urine test and blood test.

If your child cannot pass urine after cystoscopy and is in increasing pain, please go to your local accident and emergency department.

Contact numbers

Pre-op: Ward T11 admin: 020 3447 1100 (08.00-16.00)

Pre and Post-op: Admission’s team admin: 07966 774 271 (08.00-16.00)

Ward T11S: 020 3447 1103 or 950 869 745

UCLH Switchboard: 020 3456 7890

Services

Printing of this document is only valid on the day printed, please refer to the website for most up to date information:

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/patient-information-pages/cystoscopy

Service information

Page last updated: 13 February 2026

Review due: 08 January 2029