A flexible cystoscopy for women can be described as a medical procedure in which the inside of the bladder is examined with the help of a thin and flexible telescope, known as a cystoscope. During the procedure, the instrument needs to be passed into the bladder, after passing through the urethra. The main purpose of carrying out the flexible cystoscopy for women is to identify the cause of unfavorable symptoms, which may include difficulty in urinating, the presence of blood in the urine as well as other bladder problems such as abnormal growths, stones, ulcers or bulges. A doctor may recommend a flexible cystoscopy for women, to check for abnormalities that may not show up properly on an X ray.
Before conducting a flexible cystoscopy for women the medical health care expert may ask the patient to empty her bladder. When a doctor performs a flexible cystoscopy for women for the urethra, a local anesthesia is applied in the form of a gel, into the opening of the urethra. A needle is not required to apply the gel, even though a syringe is used. It should take around 5 to 10 minutes for the anesthetic affect to set in. Since anesthesia is used, the woman should feel no pain during the procedure, even though a small amount of discomfort is possible. Once the procedure is complete, the cystoscope is removed quite easily. The results of a flexible cystoscopy for women are usually available soon after the procedure is complete.
There are certain side effects that have been associated with the flexible cystoscopy for women. The most common side effect seen is a swelling in the urethra on a temporary basis, caused by a blockage in the bladder. However, this should last only for a short period of time, but a catheter may be left in the bladder to drain the urine, till the swelling goes down. However, women may experience a stinging sensation for a couple of days, while passing urine. It is also not uncommon to see traces of blood in the urine, for up to 48 hours after the flexible cystoscopy for women.
In some instances, a medical health care practitioner may need to perform a flexible cystoscopy for women in the kidney or the ureter. It is best to get additional information about the flexible cystoscopy for women on the ureter or the kidney from the doctor, beforehand.