If you have symptoms of endometriosis, you are not alone. 1 in 10 women of reproductive age suffers from endometriosis¹. You will probably want to know with certainty whether you have endometriosis or not if you have some symptoms. Scans, blood tests, and internal examinations are not conclusive. Endometriosis can only be diagnosed by laparoscopy. But how is laparoscopy performed, who performs it, and how long does it take? In this blog, we aim to answer all of your questions and concerns about endometriosis and its diagnosis using laparoscopy.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the lining of your womb, called the endometrium, grows outside of a woman’s womb. Endometriosis is often painful but there are effective treatments that may relieve the symptoms of endometriosis.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Endometriosis can significantly impact a woman’s life in a variety of ways. Symptoms of endometriosis include:
Chronic stomach or pelvic pain and pain in the lower back and thighs
Heavy, irregular, and painful periods or bleeding between periods
Ovulation pain
Tired, moody, and a lack of energy, especially at periods of time
Pain during sex
Pain when weeing or passing bowel movements
An inability to get pregnantHow is laparoscopy for endometriosis performed?
Diagnostic laparoscopy for endometriosis is typically performed under general anesthetic. It uses a small telescope with a light and camera at the end, called a laparoscope. Small cuts are made near your belly button to allow the laparoscope to be passed through so that your doctor can look inside your abdomen and pelvis for endometriosis. Carbon dioxide gas is used to inflate your stomach to help your surgeon to see your organs properly.
During a laparoscopy for endometriosis, various procedures can also be performed to destroy or remove the endometriosis and endometriotic cysts and to release scar tissue.
How long does endometriosis laparoscopy take?
Diagnostic laparoscopy for endometriosis is typically performed under general anesthetic and takes 30 to 60 minutes. The time it takes will depend on if your surgeon is able to treat the endometriosis at the same time.
Who performs laparoscopy for endometriosis?
A gynecologist or surgeon performs a laparoscopy for endometriosis.
What is the recovery process after a diagnostic laparoscopy?
Recovery after a diagnostic laparoscopy is quite fast. It is a day case procedure which means you should be able to go home on the same day.
As a general anesthetic is used, you may feel a bit groggy, nauseous, and disorientated. You will need someone to drive you home and preferably to stay with you overnight until its effects have worn off.
You may feel some pain and discomfort in your lower stomach for a couple of days. You might also have bloating, cramping, and shoulder pain caused by the gas remaining in your body. You can take pain relief.
Often ladies feel tired after a laparoscopy as their body is using their energy to heal themselves. They may also experience emotional ups and downs. Our advice is to be patient and gentle with yourself.
You should be back to your normal daily activities within five days.