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.

Fertility Surgeries - What to Expect from a Hysteroscopy

  

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Sometimes it becomes necessary for surgery to be performed in the course of fertility treatment.

It's generally not considered good news by you, the patient. 

Very few of us want to have surgery. There is fear about risks, complications and even outcomes.

When it comes to alleviating pain, however, or finding or confirming a diagnosis, sometimes surgery is a relief.

Here's an explanation on what a surgical hysteroscopy entails. This is straight from the Reproductive Medicine Associates of CT website, written and edited by our board certified reproductive endocrinologists:

Hysteroscopy

A doctor performs a hysteroscopy to look at the lining of your uterus with a viewing tool called a hysteroscope. The procedure is done to find the cause of abnormal bleeding, to remove uterine growths like polyps and fibroids, and to examine the uterus to see if there’s a problem with its shape or size that’s preventing you from becoming pregnant or causing repeated miscarriages.

Operative Hysteroscopy Procedure

A hysteroscopy is usually done in an operating room of a hospital or surgery center, although in some cases it may be done in the doctor’s office. It is an outpatient procedure and takes about 30 minutes.

A local, regional, or general anes
thesia is given, depending on the doctor’s preference.  The procedure begins like an internal gynecological exam. The doctor then places the hysteroscope at the entrance to the vagina, moving it gently through the cervix into the uterus. A gas or liquid is infused through the hysteroscope into the uterus to help the doctor see the lining more clearly. The hysteroscope is equipped with a light and a camera to provide a magnified view of the endometrium, or uterine lining, as well as the uterine openings of the fallopian tubes. All of this is can be viewed on a video screen.

During the exam, the doctor may take a small biopsy, or tissue sample, through the hysteroscope to examine under a microscope to help in a diagnosis. If infertility is a problem, a laparoscopy may also be performed.

Risks Associated with Hysteroscopy

1.     Injury to the uterus or cervix

2.     Infection

3.     Bleeding

4.     Puncture of uterus, bladder or bowel

5.     Problems with anesthesia

6.     Bloating, if fluid is used

7.     Embolism (air bubble in blood vessel) or belly pain, if gas is used

Light vaginal bleeding is normal following a hysteroscopy. If it gets heavier, or if you experience fever, severe belly or pelvic pain or cramping, problems urinating, shortness of breath or vomiting, contact your doctor.

We know that surgery can be scary. If a hysteroscopy is in your future, please let us know if you have any questions.

We're here to help.

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.