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Laparoscopic Surgery
Laparoscopy uses a telescope and tiny incisions to look inside the abdomen. This procedure may be done as part of diagnosing infertility.
Laparoscopy may be done to remove from the ovaries cysts that can make fertility treatment less likely to succeed. Also, if areas of endometriosis are seen during laparoscopy, the doctor can remove them with a laser or cauterize (burn) them.
Women who have hydrosalpinx, a condition in which the fallopian tubes fill up with fluid, may sometimes have laparoscopy to try to open the tubes. If the fallopian tubes are very damaged, the doctor may choose to remove them; studies have found that women who have big, dilated fallopian tubes have a lower pregnancy rate when they undergo in vitro fertilization, so taking the tubes out may improve their chances. There are a few theories on why this is; one is that fluid in the tubes might drain into the uterus and create a bad environment for embryos.
Like laparoscopy performed for diagnosis, laparoscopic surgery requires general anesthesia and, usually, a breathing tube. Surgery usually requires three and sometimes even four incisions because more instruments are needed.
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