When treatment calls for surgery

Remarkable advancements in nonsurgical fertility treatments have been, and continue to be, made. However, there are still situations when surgery is necessary. Some those surgeries include:

Laparoscopic surgery

This type of surgery is used to determine if the patient has pelvic scarring, endometriosis, or other abnormalities of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries that adversely affect reproduction, and to what extent. Additionally, several conditions may be found that can be treated during the procedure. A laparoscopy is performed by inserting a narrow telescopic instrument through an incision in the naval area. If further operative laparoscopy instruments are required, these are inserted through other small incisions in the abdomen. Laparoscopic surgery is generally outpatient surgery performed under general anesthesia.

Hysteroscopic surgery

A hysteroscopy uses a telescopic instrument that is inserted into the uterus through the vagina and cervix to look for abnormalities in the uterus such as scar tissue, fibroid tumors, polyps, a uterine septum, uterine malformations, or other problems that may be contributing to infertility or causing frequent miscarriages. Like the laparoscopy, if corrective treatment is possible, a corrective surgery can often be performed during the hysteroscopy. Some hysteroscopy patients will be given only mild anesthesia, while others will receive general anesthesia. If you receive anesthesia, you will be discharged one to two hours after the procedure is complete.

Tubal ligation reversal surgery

There are many reasons for deciding that you would like to have a child after you’ve had a tubal ligation, and it is not at all unusual to reverse a tubal ligation. There are two options for conceiving after you’ve had a tubal ligation. The first is IVF. The second is tubal reversal surgery. A tubal reversal surgery is most commonly performed through a laparotomy using an operative microscope. This includes an incision that is larger and deeper than laparoscopy, involving muscle, tissue, in the abdominal wall and requiring a longer recovery time. It is important to note that if your remaining tubal tissue is too short or if the fimbriated end of the tube has been removed or damaged, then tubal reversal may not work. You should talk with your doctor about your other options, such as egg retrieval and IVF if it is not possible to repair your tubes so that they will function in a way that allows potential for reproduction.