Laparoscopic Surgery for Endometriosis

Laparoscopy is the most common procedure and gold standard to diagnose and remove endometriosis. If the surgeon needs better access, he or she makes one or two more small incisions for inserting other surgical instruments. Laparoscopy offers a view of the internal organs to look for signs of endometriosis and other possible problems. This is the only way that endometriosis can be diagnosed with certainty. But a "no endometriosis" diagnosis is never certain. Growths (implants) can be tiny or hidden from the surgeon's view.

If endometriosis or scar tissue needs to be removed, the surgeon will use one of various techniques, including cutting and removing tissue (excision) or destroying it with a laser beam or electric current (electrocautery).

Laparoscopy for endometriosis is usually done at day surgery. Sometimes a surgery requires a hospital stay of 1 day. You will likely be able to return to your normal activities in 1 week, maybe longer.

Surgery relieves endometriosis pain for most women. But it does not guarantee long lasting results. Some studies have shown.

Most women - about 60% to 95% - report pain relief in the first months after surgery. However about 45% of women have symptoms return within the first year after surgery. This number increases over time. Research has not firmly proved that removing mild endometriosis improves fertility. For moderate to severe endometriosis, surgery will improve your chances of pregnancy. In some severe cases, a fertility specialist usually recommends in-vitro-fertilization post surgery.

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Steps of Laparoscopic Excision of Moderate Endometriosis