Infertility in women is a crucial problem that not only takes away their ability to conceive but also ruins them mentally and socially. However, some of the conditions are surgical and can be treated with laparoscopic surgeries.
Recently IVF (in vitro fertilization) has become a popular choice among women who are unable to conceive. However, while IVF may help them conceive, the underlying cause might be ignored entirely by the couple. It’s important that if the underlying cause can be treated it must be treated and considered as the first option to gain the fertility. The causes of infertility can be many, both medical (hormonal) and surgical. Once the treatment is successful the chances of conceiving improves up to 100%. In this article we’d discuss the surgical conditions related to infertility and their surgeries.
The general population has, though, learned about an option as IVF, there is still a lack of awareness pertaining to the treatable causes and their surgical treatment. The social pressure and mental tension, particularly in India, is so immense that the couple wants to get rid of the infertility quickly. And in their desperation they chose IVF over the fundamental treatment. The advantage of going with the surgery for treating the underlying cause is that not only it takes care of infertility but also the actual problem which might later prove hazardous to women health. Also, while the couple would have to undergo IVF for each pregnancy they seek, the surgical correction is a more permanent cure. If surgery doesn’t cure infertility, they would still have the option of IVF open to them. Thus, surgery should be the first choice of treatment, while IVF should be reserved as the backup option. For increasing the chances of IVF success it’s recommended that they should go for hystero-laparoscopy before IVF. It is considered as pre-IVF optimization. Following are some of the conditions that can be treated with laparoscopy.
Surgical Conditions Responsible for Infertility in Women
Fallopian Tube Blockage
Blocked Fallopian tubes are one of the commonest causes of infertility in women. In almost 60-70 percent of the cases of tubal blockage, the blockage could be removed through cannulation.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a hormonal & immune system disease where cells analogous to the uterus lining (endometrium) grow outside of the uterine cavity. Peritoneum (a membrane lining abdominal cavity) is a common place for endometriosis. A woman suffering from endometriosis would often suffer from infertility too. Endometriosis can be treated with the help of laparoscopic surgery.
Uterine Fibroid
Fibroid can be another cause of fertility in women. Although a woman with fibroid is not always infertile, but in those who are fertile it increases the risk of abortions and other pregnancy complications. The uterine fibroid can be removed through the procedure called laparoscopic myomectomy. If fibroid was the cause of infertility, surgical removal would reinstate fertility in the treated woman.
Poly Cystic Ovarian disease
PCOD is another condition where a woman suffers from infertility. The menstrual cycle becomes irregular besides other symptoms. Poly cystic ovarian disease can also be treated with laparoscopic surgery.
Genital tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a mycobacterial infection that can infect almost any part of the body. Genital tuberculosis is also a common cause of infertility in women, and can cause damage to the reproductive organs including blockage of Fallopian tubes. Laparoscopic surgery can be used in treatment, besides anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Also read:Â Dysmenorrhea – Symptoms, Causes and Management
