Diagnosing Female Infertility With Pelvic Laparoscopy

As a safe and effective approach to diagnosing female infertility, laparoscopy has been opted by intended parents far and wide due to its less invasive nature. Let's get you up to speed on what it can do for you or your partner. 

What Is Laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy is a conservative surgical procedure that enables your doctor to view your or your partner's reproductive organs and assess fertility. 

Benefits of Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is an alternative to open surgery and is less invasive than other female infertility diagnosis methods. Here are some of the benefits you or your partner gain from taking part in Laparoscopy: 

• Less pain and inflammation than open procedures
• Faster recovery time
• Smaller incisions
• Reduced risk of infection and complications

Uses of Laparoscopy

Your doctor will perform Laparoscopy when noninvasive diagnostic methods, such as ultrasound or MRI, do not provide enough diagnosis information. Your doctor will advise you to undergo a laparoscopy to:

• Diagnose and treat chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), or infertility.
• Remove ovarian cysts, uterine polyps, or ectopic pregnancy
• Treat disorders such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, or certain types of cancer

If your doctor recommends laparoscopy, they will provide you with specific instructions to follow before your procedure. 

The Laparoscopy Procedure

When you or your partner undergo the procedure, your doctor typically administers general anesthesia. Laparoscopy requires your doctor to insert a thin device (including a light and camera or laparoscope) through a small incision near or within the navel. 

With a laparoscope, your doctor gains a clear view of your organ and assesses the area of concern.

Once complete, your doctor will then close the incisions with sutures. 

What To Expect During Recovery

You will be discharged from the hospital on the same day as your surgery, or when you’ve fully recovered from this procedure. You or your partner may feel tired and groggy after this procedure, though it should wear off in a matter of hours. 

Keep in mind that you will need a friend or loved one to drive you or your partner to and from the appointment. Here’s what to expect for the first few days after the procedure:

• Fatigue
• Abdominal bloating
• Discomfort around the incision sites
• Shoulder pain

If you or your partner experience severe abdominal pain or a fever of 101 degrees or higher, contact your doctor right away, as this may be a sign of complications.

Laparoscopy Outcomes

If your doctor performs a biopsy during the procedure, your pathologist will then examine the tissue sample. After reviewing the report, your doctor will recommend the most effective treatment depending on the findings.