Laparoscopy for infertility: Procedure, uses, and what to expect

Laparoscopy can help a doctor diagnose many conditions that affect fertility, such as:

• endometriosis
• blocked fallopian tubes
• buildups of scar tissue
• fibroids
• other abnormalities of the reproductive system

Laparoscopy can also help when a woman has unexplained infertility. This is the diagnosis when results of other diagnostic tests were normal, but a woman is still unable to conceive.

By taking a look at the reproductive organs, the doctor may be able to identify conditions that are preventing conception and are otherwise undetectable.

Procedure

A laparoscopy is a simple outpatient procedure. A person can undergo it in:

• a hospital
• an ambulatory surgical center
• in some cases, a fertility doctor’s office

A person will receive anesthesia before the procedure, so they will not be awake or able to feel pain. After giving them the anesthesia, a surgeon will:

• insert a needle into the abdomen
• inject gas into the abdomen, to make it easier to see the organs and structures
• remove the needle and insert a small camera on an instrument called a laparoscope through a tiny incision
• make a second incision and insert a small tool called a probe

With the camera, the doctor will examine the structures in the abdomen. They will use the probe to move or lift organs out of the way.

Compared to other surgical procedures that can help a doctor diagnose the cause of infertility, a laparoscopy involves:

• less invasive methods
• a lower risk of infection
• smaller scars
• the possibility of correcting the issue during surgery
• an easier recovery

Also, if a person receives treatment during the procedure, the chances of conceiving may increase right away.

Risks

As with any surgical procedure, it is essential to consider the risks.

Risks associated with laparoscopy include:

• internal bleeding
• infection
• damage to the internal organs
• poor healing at the incision sites

In the past, laparoscopy was a standard diagnostic tool for women with unexplained infertility.

The increased use of assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), has led some doctors to recommend IVF right away, before laparoscopy.

However, a doctor may still recommend laparoscopy if they believe that it can help.

A person should discuss the procedure, and whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks, with their doctor.

Outlook and next steps

In many cases, a doctor can diagnose and even repair any issues during the laparoscopy.

After the procedure, they will describe the results and present some possible next steps.

If a person decides to try IVF or another fertility treatment, the doctor may recommend waiting several weeks or longer to allow the body to recover from the laparoscopy.

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