Laparoscopic Surgery: Understanding Infertility Surgery Options

  

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Infertility Surgery: Lowering the Anxiety

You know the joke.  It’s only minor surgery if someone else is having it.

All joking aside, infertility surgery never feels minor when it’s you who needs the surgery.  It raises anxiety--a feeling different than what you know about the surgery being minor.  

Here are some simple facts about laparoscopic surgery designed to help you understand the process better.  The more facts that you have regarding surgery, very often, the less anxiety there is. When we understand something, it becomes much less frightening. 

Laparopscopic Surgery Overview

Laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive surgery.  It is a surgical procedure in which small incisions (approximately 0.5 to 1 cm) are made in order to place a telescopic camera system into the abdomen.  This allows the surgeon to visualize your reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries).

Laparoscopy for Infertility Diagnosis 

To enable infertility diagnosis, certain patients with fertility problems may benefit from a diagnostic and/or operative laparoscopy.  At the time of your surgery, we will see if your fallopian tubes are open.  In addition, laparoscopy will evaluate the relationship between your ovaries and fallopian tubes.  Any adhesions or endometriosis will be removed at the time of surgery.

Procedural Advantages: Laparoscopy and Infertility

The advantages to laparoscopy in addressing infertility over an open abdomen procedure include:

1. Decreased blood loss.
2. Small abdominal incisions.
3. Shorter surgical recovery time.
4. Less pain.

Operative Laparoscopy Procedure 

For an operative laparoscopy procedure, general anesthesia is used.  Small incisions are made on the abdomen.  Gas is placed into the abdomen.  The laparoscope is put through the incision.  This allows your surgeon to view your reproductive organs.  The laparoscope produces images on a television screen.

Microsurgical instruments are placed through the abdominal incisions.  These will allow your physician to cut adhesions or remove endometriosis.  After your procedure, the incisions are closed and you will go home the same day.

Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is located in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.  It can cause abdominal pain and bleeding.  Laparoscopy is utilized to diagnose and treat ectopic pregnancies.

Most Common Problems After Laparoscopic Surgery

Most commonly, after laparoscopic surgery, six familiar problems could arise:

1. Nausea.
2. Pain around incision sites.
3. Hoarse throat as a breathing tube is placed during anesthesia.
4. Abdominal pain.
5. Tenderness.
6. Shoulder pain.

If you have any of these symptoms, alert your nurse or physician.

If surgery has been recommended by a physician or group of physicians that you trust and feel comfortable with, then do what you can to understand the procedure.  Be proactive.  Ask questions.  If there are things that you don’t understand, ask more questions.  

The fertility doctors at RMACT are there to help and provide fertility answers.  Surgery, being done for your benefit, is a healthy and smart option.  Being as familiar as possible with what to expect can make the entire experience more comfortable.

Infertility and Laparoscopy- When Surgery is Necessary

  

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You know the joke. It’s only minor surgery if someone else is having it.

All joking aside, surgery never feels minor when it’s you who needs the surgery. It raises anxiety, a feeling, different than what you know about the surgery being minor. Here are some simple facts about laparoscopic surgery designed to help you understand the process better. The more facts that you have regarding surgery, very often, the less anxiety there is. When we understand something, it becomes much less frightening.

Laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive surgery. It is a surgical procedure in which small incisions (approximately 0.5 to 1 cm) are made in order to place a telescopic camera system into the abdomen. This allows the surgeon to visualize your reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries).

Laparoscopy for Diagnosis and Surgery

Certain patients with fertility problems may benefit from a diagnostic and/or operative laparoscopy. At the time of your surgery, we will see if your fallopian tubes are open. In addition, laparoscopy will evaluate the relationship between your ovaries and fallopian tubes. Any adhesions or endometriosis will be removed at the time of surgery.

Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is located in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. It can cause abdominal pain and bleeding. Laparoscopy is utilized to diagnose and treat ectopic pregnancies.

Advantages of a Laparoscopy

The advantages to laparoscopy over an open abdomen procedure include:

1. Decreased blood loss.
2. Small abdominal incisions.
3. Shorter surgical recovery time.
4. Less pain.

Operative laparoscopy Procedure

General anesthesia is used. Small incisions are made on the abdomen. Gas is placed into the abdomen. The laparoscope is put through the incision. This allows your surgeon to view your reproductive organs. The laparoscope produces images on a television screen.

Microsurgical instruments are placed through the abdominal incisions. These will allow your physician to cut adhesions or remove endometriosis.

After your procedure, the incisions are closed and you will go home the same day.

Most Common Problems After Laparoscopic Surgery

1. Nausea.
2. Pain around incision sites.
3. Hoarse throat as a breathing tube is placed during anesthesia.
4. Abdominal pain.
5. Tenderness.
6. Shoulder pain.

If you have any of these symptoms, alert your nurse or physician.

If surgery is what is being recommended by a physician or group of physicians that you trust and feel comfortable with, then do what you can to understand the procedure. Be proactive. Ask questions. If there are things that you don’t understand, ask more questions. Surgery, being done for your benefit, is a healthy and smart option. Being as familiar as possible with what to expect can make the entire experience more comfortable.