Cystoscopy is performed by placing a small lighted telescope into your urethra to examine the entire bladder. This can be performed either with a flexible tube (flexible cystoscopy) or a rigid tube (rigid cystoscopy). With flexible cystoscopy, the tube can be manipulated to bend up, down and sideways. The rigid cystoscope is equipped with lenses that point in different directions. In both methods, the bladder is filled gently with sterile saline or water. This allows your doctor to fully see all areas of your bladder.

In females, both methods of cystoscopy can be performed without sedation. A local anesthetic jelly can be applied to the urethra. This should provide enough anesthesia to evaluate and perform diagnostic procedures such as a small biopsy or a bladder washing.

Men may need sedation if a rigid cystoscope is used. Usually flexible cystoscopy can be done in men without sedation, using only a local anesthetic jelly.

People with active or presumed urinary tract infections should be treated with antibiotics before and after cystoscopy.