What should you know about white-light cystoscopy?

A clinician passes a cystoscope through the urethra into the bladder after cleaning the area and using local anaesthetic gel or another anaesthetic plan. Sterile fluid may fill the bladder so its lining can be viewed. The clinician looks for changes such as redness, an irregular area or a growth. A sample can be sent for laboratory examination; seeing an abnormal area does not by itself establish cancer.

White-light cystoscopy is a form of [Cystoscopy](/treatments/diagnostics-and-staging/cystoscopy/). It may be used when bladder symptoms need assessment or when [Bladder Cancer](/conditions/bladder-cancer/) is being investigated or monitored.

Follow the clinic's instructions about medicines, eating, drinking and whether you need someone to accompany you after sedation or a general anaesthetic. Tell the team about blood-thinning medicines, allergies, pregnancy, urinary infections and difficulty passing urine. Ask whether a urine test is needed before the procedure and when results will be available.

Afterward, drink fluids if your clinician says this is suitable and follow the discharge instructions. Mild burning when passing urine or a small amount of blood can occur for a short time, but the team should explain what is expected for your procedure.

Contact the clinic if pain, burning or blood in the urine is worsening or not settling as expected. Seek urgent help for inability to pass urine, heavy bleeding or clots, fever, chills, severe lower abdominal pain or feeling very unwell. These symptoms can signal infection, bleeding or another complication that needs assessment.

Ask which anaesthetic will be used, whether a biopsy or treatment could happen during the same visit, how long recovery may take, and when the report will be ready. Ask which symptoms require an urgent call and whether you should change any regular medicine.