Flexible cystoscopy in Taichung: single-use scope, comfort, aftercare

In short

• Why: blood in the urine can come from infection, stones or a tumour. Delaying the test does not make the problem go away.
• Comfort: the soft tube bends with the urethra, so most people feel less discomfort than with a rigid scope. It still varies between individuals.
• Anaesthesia: before the test, a nurse puts local anaesthetic lubricating gel into the opening of the urethra.
• Hygiene: the scope is opened from its package for you and discarded after one use. It is not cleaned and used again, so the risk of cross-infection from reused instruments is reduced.
• Afterwards: the first one or two times you pass urine, you may feel mild stinging or see a little blood. Drink plenty of water. It usually settles within half a day. Bleeding, urinary discomfort and infection are still possible.
• Cost: Costs are explained at the consultation. You can also ask about costs on LINE before you come.

Putting off the test carries more risk than the test itself

Some people still picture the old rigid instruments, so they delay the follow-up for blood in the urine (haematuria). But haematuria can be caused by anything from an infection or a stone to a tumour. Waiting does not make the cause disappear, and the longer it waits, the fewer treatment choices there often are.

Painless blood in the urine needs to be checked even if it happens only once. If the symptom goes away by itself, that does not mean the problem is solved.

What a cystoscopy is for

In urology, cystoscopy is a key test for checking haematuria, bladder tumours, narrowing of the urethra (urethral stricture) and similar problems. The doctor decides at the consultation whether you need it and which method suits you. You may be advised to come if you have:

• painless blood in the urine;
• repeated urinary tract infections;
• difficulty passing urine;
• follow-up after bladder cancer surgery.

A flexible cystoscope can also remove a double-J stent (a thin tube between kidney and bladder) that was placed in a hospital after stone treatment. The longer a stent stays in, the more likely it is to become coated with crust. You can come to the clinic for assessment first. See when a double-J stent should come out (Chinese).

Rigid, reusable flexible and single-use flexible scopes

In the past, rigid cystoscopes were widely used. Their tube is hard, and the male urethra has curves, so passing a rigid scope often caused strong pain and damage to the lining. Flexible cystoscopes were developed later and greatly reduced discomfort.

Reusable flexible scopes bring another challenge: cleaning between patients (reprocessing). They have very narrow inner channels, and cleaning and high-level disinfection are complex. If any step is missed, a layer of germs (biofilm) can form and cause infection passed between patients in a healthcare setting.

The single-use flexible scope used here takes a different approach. A small high-definition camera chip (CMOS) is built into its tip. It aims to meet three needs together: sterile conditions from single use, comfort during the test, and clear images for diagnosis.

Think of restaurant chopsticks. A rigid scope is like a steel chopstick: clean but hard. A reusable flexible scope is like a fine wooden one that needs full cleaning after every use. A single-use scope is like a new pair of disposable chopsticks, opened in front of you and thrown away after use.

Clear images, and the limits of any cystoscope

A reusable flexible scope is soaked in chemicals and disinfected under heat and pressure tens or hundreds of times. Over time, the fibres and lens inside can age, and the image may show black spots or blur. A single-use scope has its camera at the tip and is new from the package each time, so this wear does not apply. Its bright, clear view helps the doctor look for changes in the lining or very small stones.

However good the image, cystoscopy has its own limits. Very small or flat changes can be hard to see with any cystoscope. One example is carcinoma in situ: a flat cancer that grows only in the surface lining of the bladder and does not stick out.

• If the doctor sees a suspicious area, a small tissue sample (biopsy) is needed to confirm it.
• When a biopsy is taken, the pathology report gives the final answer. Please come back as booked to hear the result, and keep to the follow-up times the doctor sets.
• The type of scope and the imaging mode are two different things. Narrow-band imaging (NBI) increases the contrast of the lining and small blood vessels, which can help with flat changes that are hard to see in white light. The doctor assesses whether it should be added.

During the test: anaesthesia and what you can do

1. Assessment first. The doctor decides at the clinic whether this test is right for you and how it is done.
2. Local anaesthesia. A nurse puts local anaesthetic lubricating gel into the opening of the urethra.
3. Relax. Try to relax your pelvic floor muscles and breathe deeply as the doctor tells you. This helps the soft tube pass more smoothly.
4. Watch and talk. You can see the images on the screen, and most people can talk with the doctor during the test. You may feel pressure or a sore, aching feeling.

People with an enlarged prostate or a narrowed urethra may feel more discomfort.

After the test

• The first one or two times you pass urine, you may feel mild stinging or see a small amount of blood. This is normal after the scope has passed along the lining.
• Drink plenty of water to help you pass urine. These symptoms usually settle within half a day.

Risks, discomfort and who needs extra planning

A flexible cystoscope greatly improves comfort, but cystoscopy is still an invasive medical test.

• During the test: pressure or a sore, aching feeling. How much discomfort you feel varies between individuals and depends on your urethra.
• After the test: short-lived blood in the urine, or a burning feeling when passing urine. Bleeding, urinary discomfort and infection remain possible.
• More discomfort is possible with an enlarged prostate or a narrowed urethra.
• Timing set by the doctor: if you take blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medicine, or have had a urinary tract infection recently, the doctor arranges the timing of the test separately. Tell us before the test.
• Not for every situation. The doctor assesses on the day whether the test and the method suit you. Very small or flat changes can be missed by any cystoscope.

Frequently asked questions

Appointments and access

Consultations are conducted in Mandarin, and can also be conducted in English.

If you or a family member has been advised to have a cystoscopy because of blood in the urine or repeated infections, book a consultation for assessment first. To learn about the process before you come, ask on LINE. You do not need to explain why you are here in the waiting area; the clinic has private consulting rooms.

昭安泌尿科診所 (Morning Urology Clinic)
No. 98, Boguan 2nd St., West District, Taichung City 403, Taiwan（403 臺中市西區博館二街98號）
Consulting hours: Monday to Saturday (closed Sunday). Online booking is open 24 hours.

This page was produced by 昭安泌尿科診所 (Morning Urology Clinic). Medical content last updated: October 2026 (same as the Traditional Chinese version). English version published: 5 November 2026. Medically reviewed by Dr. Chao-An Chen, urologist.

Sources: the Traditional Chinese version of this page, reviewed by Dr. Chao-An Chen.

This page provides general medical information and does not replace an individual diagnosis or treatment plan.