The Role of Endoscopy in Management of Infertility

Abstract

Laparoscopy is used world-wide to investigate infertility. It is a minimally invasive surgical technique used in infertility diagnosis and treatment and generally accepted that diagnostic laparoscopy is the gold standard in diagnosing tubal pathology and other intra abdominal causes of infertility. Laparoscopic surgery has revolutionized gynecological surgery. In a female, the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are located in the pelvis which is at the very bottom of the abdomen. Laparoscopy allows seeing abnormalities that might interfere with a woman's ability to conceive a pregnancy. Infertility diagnostic and operative laparoscopy help evaluate gynecological problems such as uterine fibroids, structural abnormalities of the uterus, endometriosis, ovarian cysts and adhesions. A large number of procedures can be performed laparoscopically. Most commonly it is used to inspect the pelvic organs (diagnostic laparoscopy), and often to perform surgical procedures (operative laparoscopy) at the same time. Complicated endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, removal of large ovarian cysts and fibroids should only be performed by highly skilled laparoscopic surgeons. The fiber-optic camera on the laparoscope is very small. It is inserted into the body, through an incision made in the nave, another incision may be made near the upper pubic region.