Laparoscopy is the name of the surgical procedure used to diagnose the cause of infertility in women. The doctor inserts a laparoscope and specialized surgical instruments through tiny cuts in the abdomen. A laparoscope a device that is a thin fiber-optic tube that has a light and camera is fitted.
Laparoscopic surgery involves the creation of three or two or one cuts in the abdomen of the patient. Through these cuts, small, specialized laparoscope instruments are inserted into the body of the patient. With the help of this procedure, doctors can easily examine the internal abdominal organs. It can also help in repairing the organs without the need for larger incisions requiring longer recovery time and hospital stay.
Laparoscopic surgery is suggested by doctors to diagnose the root cause of infertility. Generally, such a surgery is performed only after diagnosing infertility in the patient. Sometimes, patients suffering from ectopic pregnancy are suggested by the doctor to go for laparoscopic surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery infertility treatment involves procedures for diagnosing causes of infertility as well as for some surgical operations. Various uses of laparoscopic surgery are:
- Evaluation of infertility
- Treatment of fallopian tubes
- Removal of adhesions or scar tissues
- Treatment of endometriosis
- Removal of ovarian cysts
Because of the high treatment costs involved with the surgery, it is still not a common procedure followed for infertility treatment. However, it is one of the most effective methods for the treatment being offered by reproductive endocrinologists. Laparoscopy is suggested for women experiencing problems like:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Frequent miscarriages
- Unexplained infertility
- Abdominal pain
They can look forward to laparoscopic surgery as a ray of hope. Endometriosis and some other causes of infertility can be diagnosed only with the help of laparoscopic surgery. Apart from helping the doctor to help diagnose the internal problems associated with the abdominal organs, it also helps in diagnosing biopsy suspicious growths or cysts.
Laparoscopic surgery infertility treatment can be carried out at a hospital or a local clinic. Generally, a local anesthetic is used for performing this surgery. One should not intake anything around six hours before the operation. Also some antibiotic is given to the patient. The surgery continues for twenty minutes to two hours, it depends upon the internal conditions of the patient. If the presence of adhesions or endometriosis is confirmed during the process of diagnostic laparoscopy, then an operative laparoscopic procedure aimed at improving fertility may be the next step in Laparoscopic surgery infertility treatment.
After the local anesthesia starts working, the doctors make small cuts around the belly region. A needle is inserted into the body of the patient through one of these cuts. This is done for filling carbon dioxide into the abdomen. It helps the doctors to watch the organs and move the instruments of surgery. After the abdomen is completely filled with carbon dioxide, the needle is removed and the laparoscopic instrument is fitted at its place. Using this instrument, the doctors see the pelvic organs. Sometimes biopsy tissue is used for the testing purposes of the doctors.
Though this is quite an effective surgery for diagnosing the cause of infertility, there are many risks associated with the surgery. However, they are noticed rarely. Some of such complications are:
- Occurrence of internal bleeding
- Damages to blood vessels
- Some minor infections
- Local anesthesia reaction
- Damages to bowel, bladder, kidneys, etc