Gynecologic Laparoscopy - How Effective Is It For Infertility?

Almost every woman wants to lead a healthy life with their loved ones and experience the joy of motherhood when the right time comes. However, as much as you detest it, the last decade or two has seen a steady rise in gynecological problems. While some of the gynecological conditions are minor and can be easily treated and taken care of, others may give you a hard time. From PCOS to Endometriosis, left untreated, some of these problems may trigger infertility, complicating things further.

Open surgeries have long been the only surgical option to deal with such critical problems. However, the advent of Laparoscopy has brought about a much-needed relief benefitting millions of women with gynecological problems worldwide. Based on the latest technology and being minimally invasive, laparoscopy comes with a lot of benefits. In addition to surgically treating a condition, laparoscopy also ensures an accurate and better diagnosis. In this article, we will discuss the laparoscopic surgeries to deal with infertility and other related gynecological issues.

Infertility and Laparoscopic surgery

Identifying the underlying factor(s) responsible for infertility can go a long way to treat the condition successfully. Some of the factors that contribute towards infertility include

1. PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a medical condition whereby formation of a cyst(s) take place in one or both the ovaries. These cysts affect the ovulation process as the eggs either do not mature or the ovary fails to release the mature eggs. To deal with this situation, a surgeon often performs the Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling or Ovarian Diathermy.
   • Here, the surgeon makes small cuts in the abdomen (belly button).
   • To inflate the stomach, the surgeon inserts carbon dioxide gas inside the stomach.
   • The Laparoscope along with the surgical instruments are next inserted inside through the incisions.
   • Parts of the ovary that are being affected are destroyed using Electrocautery.
2. Ovarian Diathermy plays a significant role in normalizing the ovulation process, which was affected by PCOS.
3. A blocked fallopian tube can also trigger infertility. In this case, Laparoscopic Fimbrioplasty (performed when there is a scar or a blockage in the part of the fallopian tube that is adjacent to the ovary) comes in handy. It is a laparoscopic reconstructive procedure that helps to open the tubal blockage, thereby restoring the fimbriae (finger-like projections located at the tube ends that aids in the transportation of the matured eggs from the ovary into the uterus).
4. Endometriosis: This is a medical term used to define a condition whereby the endometrial cells grow outside the uterus, often in the ovary or the fallopian tube resulting in pain and infertility. Here also, laparoscopy comes as a saviour, getting rid of any scarred tissues, endometrial implants or endometrioma (endometriosis cyst that forms in the ovary), thereby improving the condition.
5. Laparoscopy can also be used to treat ovarian cancer, removal of fibroids (uterine myomas or uterine tumors), hysterectomy (uterus removal).
6. Laparoscopy plays a significant role in reversing the tubal ligation (closure of the fallopian tube to prevent pregnancy).