Overview

A cystogram is a type of X-ray that looks at your bladder. It shows us what your bladder looks like and how it fills up.

Cystograms use an X-ray method called fluoroscopic imaging. This shows us images in real time, like a live video.

Benefits of a cystogram

You might have a cystogram if you have:

• urinary tract infections (UTIs) that keep coming back
• urinary incontinence (peeing unintentionally)
• recently had surgery

A cystogram helps your doctor to diagnose your condition and recommend which treatments are best for you. It can also find any structural problems or damage in your bladder. 

Risks of a cystogram

A cystogram uses X-rays, which are a type of radiation called ionising radiation. The amount of radiation used in medical X-rays is low and the risks are small.

We weigh up the benefits and risks of doing a cystogram before we recommend one for you. Talk to us if you have any questions or concerns.

The radiographer doing your X-ray will make sure the amount of radiation is kept as low as possible. 

Radiation and pregnancy

Radiation can be harmful for an unborn baby.

Before your cystogram, tell us if you’re pregnant or if you think you might be pregnant. We cannot do any procedures that involve radiation if you’re pregnant. 

If you do not use contraception, avoid having sex from the first day of your period until your appointment. If you have unprotected sex before your appointment, contact us to reschedule your appointment so that it takes place within the first 10 days of your period. This helps to make sure you are not pregnant during your cystogram.

If you use contraception, you can have sex as usual.

You’ll be asked to sign a form about your pregnancy risks before your cystogram.

Giving your permission (consent)

We want to involve you in decisions about your care and treatment. If you decide to have the procedure or treatment, we’ll ask you to sign a consent form. This says that you understand what’s involved and agree to have the treatment.

Read more about our consent process.

Before the procedure

A cystogram uses a substance called a contrast agent. Contrast agents make X-ray images show up more clearly so we can see your internal organs better.

We use a contrast agent that contains iodine, which some people are allergic to.

You do not need to do anything else to prepare for a cystogram. If you take any medicines, keep taking them as normal.

Plan your journey and make sure you arrive on time for your appointment.

During the procedure

When you get to hospital, you’ll meet the team who will care for you during your procedure. Cystograms are done by:

• a radiologist (a doctor who uses X-rays to diagnose and treat illnesses) 
• a radiographer (a health professional that takes the images) 

Getting ready

We’ll ask you to take off your clothes and put on a hospital gown. You can do this in a changing room.

Take off any:

• jewellery
• dentures
• glasses 
• metal accessories

Tell your radiologist about:

• any medicines you’re taking
• any allergies you have
• our recent illnesses
• any other medical conditions

We’ll ask you to go to the toilet and empty your bladder. Then, we’ll take you to the fluoroscopy room where you’ll lie down on the X-ray table.

We’ll clean your genital area and cover you with clean towels. We’ll put some local anaesthetic jelly on you to make the cystogram more comfortable. This will numb the area so you do not feel any pain.

Inserting a catheter for the contrast agent

We’ll carefully put a thin tube called a catheter into your urethra (the opening that your urine comes out of). This might be uncomfortable, but should not be painful. We’ll gently push the catheter into your bladder.

If you’re having a cystogram after an operation, you might already have a catheter in place. If you do, we’ll use this catheter instead of putting in a new one. We will not remove the catheter after the cystogram unless your doctor has asked us to.

Taking X-ray images

We’ll put the contrast agent into your bladder through the catheter. As the contrast agent flows into your bladder, we’ll take some X-ray images.

We might ask you to change position so we can see your bladder from different angles. The X-ray equipment will also move around you so we can get the best images we can.

The radiologist and radiographer will be with you during the cystogram. You can ask them any questions and let them know if you feel uncomfortable.

Removing the catheter

Once we’ve taken all the X-ray images we need, we’ll remove the catheter. You’ll be able to use the toilet again if you need to.

We might ask you to come back to the fluoroscopy room to take extra X-ray images of your bladder without the catheter.

Finishing the procedure

We might give you an injection of antibiotics to reduce the risk of any infection.

A cystogram usually takes about 20 minutes. You might have to wait a few minutes while we check the images. It’s important we make sure the images show everything we need to see.

After the procedure

You might feel discomfort when peeing immediately after the procedure. This usually gets better within 12 hours. If you’re concerned, talk to your radiologist or radiographer.

You can leave hospital after you cystogram is done.

Most people do not get any side effects after a cystogram. If you feel unwell after leaving hospital, contact the doctor who referred you or a GP.

Getting your results

Your radiologist will examine your cystogram images and write a report about what they see. We’ll send this to the doctor who referred you for the cystogram. Your doctor will discuss the results with you and talk about any treatment you might need.

You should already have a follow-up appointment scheduled with the doctor who referred you. If not, contact them to arrange one.