Fertility Treatment
Laparoscopy
What is a Laparoscopy
A Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves inserting a small telescope-like camera along with other surgical tools through small incisions made in the belly button and along the lower abdomen. A laparoscopy at CNY Fertility is used for both diagnostic and corrective reasons in that if a diagnosis is made a corrective measure will be taken to fix that abnormality.
Inserting a camera in through these tiny incisions allows our surgeons to visualize the abdominal and pelvic organs including the Uterus, Fallopian Tubes, and Ovaries.
By performing a surgery laparoscopically in a minimally invasive way, we actually improve the results of our surgeries by limiting tissue damage which provides the additional benefit of limiting your recovery time.
As such, you will be able to walk the same day of your surgery. However, because of the anesthesia and pain medications, you will be given, you will not be able to drive or operate any other heavy machinery the same day. You will be able to resume your normal daily activity (minus any strenuous activity the next day) although we recommend you take an additional day or two and up to a week off of work for your procedure.
Why Have a Laparoscopy
How Does a Laparoscopy Help Fertility?
A Laparoscopy allows for the diagnosis and correction of infertility causes that would otherwise be missed by other, less invasive testing like an HSG, ultrasound, and blood work.
Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids, Abnormal Growths
These abnormalities are often signs of and create inflammation which can interfere and inhibit otherwise normal egg sperm and embryo from both fertilization, implantation, and ability to thrive. They can be the cause of your “unexplained infertility.” A large, randomized meta-analysis of the available research found that treating endometriosis was associated with about a 60% increase in the chance for a successful pregnancy.
Scar Tissue
Scar tissue can prevent the egg from reaching the fallopian tubes or otherwise inhibit the sperm and the egg from meeting and implanting successfully. This can also be identified and treated to improve the change of a successful cycle.
When Should a Laparoscopy Be Performed?
About 20-30% of couples will have no definitive diagnosis after completing a standard infertility evaluation. In today’s fast-paced treatment paradigm, some patients prefer to move forward with treatment without further clarification. Although oftentimes appropriate, this strategy should not be applied to every patient/couple.
A Laparoscopy is often recommended or at least brought into the discussion after all male and female basic fertility evaluations have been completed along with a few failed Letrozole, Clomid, or IUI cycles. After a or number of failed IVF cycles, it would become increasingly more important to have a laparoscopy done.
Other Considerations
Recent studies have investigated the usefulness of these diagnostic surgical procedures from a financial perspective. They found that laparoscopy was cost-effective in improving pregnancy rates/outcomes based upon many factors including the potential impact of endometriosis. Finally, they also found that undergoing diagnostic surgery was associated with a lower rate of patients “dropping out” of fertility treatment before becoming pregnant. This suggests that having all of the information available prior to treatment is preferred by some couples experiencing infertility.
