Diagnosing and Treating Endometriosis with Laparoscopy
Endometriosis is a painful condition that affects roughly 10 percent of women of reproductive age. The condition causes the tissues that line the inside of the uterus to grow outside of the uterus, in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the lining of the pelvis. Endometriosis commonly leads to fertility problems.
While endometriosis can cause a number of issues, there are effective treatments for the condition. At Los Angeles Reproductive Center, which serves the Encino, CA, Bakersfield, CA, and Los Angeles, CA, areas, our fertility specialists can diagnose and treat endometriosis with laparoscopy. Laparoscopy can often effectively diagnose and treat endometriosis with a single surgical procedure.
What Is Laparoscopy?
Laparoscopy is a surgical technique that uses smaller incisions than traditional surgical techniques. During the procedure, a laparoscope is inserted into the body. The laparoscope is a thin tool that has a small camera on the end. The camera gives surgeons a full view of the treatment area, projecting images onto a video monitor that allows the surgeon to see the surgical site and precisely guide the surgical instruments.
Diagnosing Endometriosis With Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy is an effective diagnostic tool for individuals who are experiencing potential symptoms of endometriosis, such as pain during menstruation, intercourse, bowel movements, or urination; excessively heavy periods; or infertility. During a laparoscopic procedure, our fertility specialists make one to three tiny incisions in the abdomen. The laparoscope is inserted through these incisions.
Using the video monitor as guidance, the surgeon maneuvers the laparoscope to examine the reproductive organs and look for endometrial growths, blockages, fibroids, scar tissues, or other abnormalities. If necessary, tissue samples can be taken for further testing or biopsy.
Treating Endometriosis With Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy is not only a diagnostic tool, but also an effective treatment for endometriosis. Using laparoscopy technology, our doctors can diagnose and treat endometriosis during a single procedure. If doctors find abnormal growths or tissues during laparoscopy surgery, surgical tools can be used to remove or correct abnormalities. By removing growths or excess tissues, doctors clear blockages that may be causing fertility issues for our patients.
Benefits of Laparoscopy
When diagnosing and treating endometriosis, our doctors often prefer laparoscopy because of the many advantages it offers over traditional surgery. Some of the most notable benefits of laparoscopy include:
- Smaller incisions: Traditional surgical techniques require a long incision that grants full access to and visibility of the reproductive organs. The laparoscope contains a camera that gives a full view of the reproductive organs, so visibility is achieved with only small surgical incisions.
- Faster recovery: Because laparoscopy involves much smaller incisions than traditional surgery, the recovery period tends to be much shorter as well.
- Minimal risk of surgical complications: Laparoscopy is considered a minimally invasive surgical technique. Because it is less invasive, the risk of infection and other surgical complications is lower.
- More discreet scars: Smaller incisions naturally result in smaller scars, which can more easily be hidden beneath clothing, including underwear or a bikini.
Contact Us
If you suffer from the symptoms of endometriosis, laparoscopy may be able to provide effective diagnosis and treatment. To learn more about this minimally invasive surgical technique, contact our fertility clinic online and request an appointment.