Laparoscopy

How it works

The laparoscopy procedure

Laparoscopy is a short surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia at a hospital or surgery center. Once you are under anesthesia, the physician will insert a needle and inject a harmless gas into your abdomen. The gas raises the abdominal wall so that he or she will be able to see your reproductive organs more clearly. The physician will remove the needle and insert the laparoscope through a tiny incision. He or she will make another small incision in your lower abdomen in order to insert a probe. The physician uses the probe to move or lift the organs to see hidden areas.

During the procedure the physician may inject a dye through your cervix into your uterus and Fallopian tubes to see if they are open or blocked. If your doctor sees a problem, he or she can often treat it at this time with a surgical instrument inserted through another small incision made in your lower abdomen.

After the laparoscopy

After the procedure, you will probably stay in the recovery room for about 3 or 4 hours. When you recover from the anesthesia, you will be able to go home. You should plan to have someone take you home after the procedure and stay with you during the first 24 hours. In some cases, you may require an overnight hospital stay.

It is normal after this procedure to feel sore and tired for a few days. You may feel pain in your shoulders and under your diaphragm. These pains are caused by gas bubbles from the procedure and should disappear in a day or two. Taking pain medication and walking or moving around should help relieve this pain. You should plan on taking a few days off from work.