Laparoscopy

In laparoscopic surgery, your surgeon makes one or more very small incisions — typically less than a centimeter — in the abdomen. A thin, lighted camera called a laparoscope is inserted through one of these incisions, sending magnified images of your internal organs to a video screen. Additional small instruments can be passed through the other incisions to perform surgical tasks. To create space to work, the abdominal cavity is inflated with carbon dioxide gas, which lifts the abdominal wall away from the organs.

For women, laparoscopy is frequently used to diagnose and treat gynecologic conditions that affect the pelvis and reproductive organs. It is the gold-standard method for diagnosing endometriosis, a condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus — because endometriosis often does not appear on imaging scans and can only be confirmed visually and by tissue sampling during the procedure. Laparoscopy is also used to remove ovarian cysts, treat ectopic pregnancies, perform oophorectomy (removal of one or both ovaries), and, in some cases, carry out a hysterectomy.

Compared to open surgery, laparoscopy generally involves shorter hospital stays, less post-operative pain, smaller scars, lower risk of infection, and faster return to normal activities. However, not all procedures or patient situations are suitable for a laparoscopic approach, and your surgeon will assess whether it is appropriate based on your anatomy, medical history, and the complexity of the procedure needed.

If you have been living with unexplained pelvic pain, difficult periods, or suspected endometriosis — conditions that can take years to diagnose — laparoscopy can provide answers that imaging alone cannot. It is both a diagnostic and a therapeutic tool in a single procedure, meaning that in many cases your surgeon can treat what they find at the same time they confirm it.

The minimally invasive nature of laparoscopy means that if you do need pelvic surgery, recovery is often far less disruptive than you might expect from open surgery. Many women go home the same day and resume light activities within days to a week. If your provider is recommending laparoscopy, asking about their experience with the specific procedure, what they expect to find, and what they plan to do if they find it helps you feel prepared and in control of your care.