What is Laparoscopic Surgery?
Laparoscopic Surgery is keyhole surgery that is performed to check the health of your uterus and ovaries. It can also check that Fallopian tubes are open and functioning well. Laparoscopic surgery can also detect and treat endometriosis, fibroids and uterine abnormalities and assess the fallopian tubes.
What Does Laparoscopic Surgery Involve?
A small incision is made in the abdomen and a laparoscope with a video camera is introduced. This allows us to visualise the abdomen and pelvis on a video monitor in the operating theatre.
The laparoscopy helps us to detect issues that may affect your fertility and from there, to perform any surgical treatment that may be required. If surgical treatment is required, it can be done at the time. Special instruments are inserted through four other small incisions, usually hidden in the hair in the pubic region. When the surgery is complete, the instruments are removed, and a small suture closes the incisions.
Endometriosis Surgery
If you have Endometriosis, we can typically remove the Endometrium tissue at the time of Laparoscopic Surgery. In many cases, this surgery is enough to allow you to conceive a baby naturally. However, if it isn’t, we can then explore other fertility options.
Fallopian Tube Surgery
We can diagnose – and often correct – damaged or blocked Fallopian tubes during Laparoscopic Surgery. For example, if we think it will improve success rates of IVF procedures, we may remove scar tissue or correct damage. If the tubal surgery doesn’t result in a successful pregnancy, or if tubal damage is such that surgery can’t correct it, we may explore IVF options that will give you an improved chance of success.
Female Microsurgery
Microscopic surgery may sometimes be required after Laparoscopic surgery. In this case, we will refer you to a surgeon trained in microsurgery and specialised operating techniques. Microsurgeons use these techniques to correct very small structures or obstructions in the Fallopian tubes. Microsurgery is also used to remove scar tissue around the uterus, tubes and ovaries.
Is There Any Downtime?
This depends on the amount of surgery, if any, you require. However, as Laparoscopic Surgery is done under general anaesthetic, we do advise taking a week off work and regular activity to allow for a full anaesthetic recovery.
General post-operative symptoms may include tiredness, nausea, muscle pain, pain in the abdomen where the incisions were made, cramping, slight vaginal bleeding and discharge.
