What is Laparoscopy

You are having pains or swellings, which point to the womb, ovaries, or tubes. A look inside your tummy and pelvis (the lower part of your abdomen where your womb, ovaries and tubes are located) is needed to see what is going on.

The Operation

You will have a general anaesthetic and be completely asleep. A small cut is made in the skin just below your tummy button. A narrow telescope called a laparoscope is passed through the tummy wall, and your tummy is inflated with carbon dioxide gas. This gives the Surgeon a good view of the inside of your pelvis. He may also pass other instruments into the tummy through one or two other cuts. These will help him to get a better view. He may pass a fine instrument through the vagina and into the womb to help him move the pelvic parts around as he looks for the problem. A scraping of the lining of the womb is often taken at the same time. Finally, a stitch is put into each skin wound. The operation usually takes about 20 minutes. It can usually be done as a day case. This means you come into hospital on the day of the operation and go home the same day providing that everything is fine with you and you recover from the anaesthetic, which usually takes three to four hours. Usually a laparoscopy tells the Surgeon if there is anything wrong. Treatment with tablets may be all you need. Quite often a laparoscopy will reveal that the womb, ovaries, and tubes are in good order.