Is cystoscopy painful?
Cystoscopy is the passage of a small scope through the normal urethral opening. It is different in men and women. Cystoscopy in a woman is done without anesthesia. It is virtually painless. A little bit of lubricant is used to help ease the introduction of the scope. Lubricant with some lidocaine gel is also used to help faciltate any discomfort – to facilitate passage of the scope. In women, it generally is not an issue. Most women are quite comfortable, unless you overextend the bladder, but the procedure itself is well tolerated. It is more of a challenge in men due to anatomic changes, but using today’s instruments, which are small caliber and flexible, and by using a topical, local anesthetic prior to instrumentation, most men tolerate the procedure without any problem or difficulty.
