What is Reproductive Surgery?
Sometimes, all you need to go through is a simple surgery to increase your chances of conceiving a baby. It has been seen that some women are prone (genetically) to certain health problems, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids. Such conditions can adversely affect their pregnancy, and they may suffer from repeated pregnancy loss. However, through reproductive surgery, such health conditions can be treated, and women will be able to conceive. It includes different operations for different purposes, but most are carried out to restore normal tubes, ovaries and uterus.
Some Possible Reasons for Reproductive Surgery
As reproductive surgery includes multiple operations, you need to consult your doctor to know which operation will be suitable for your condition. Some common reasons for reproductive surgery are:
- Unexplained infertility
- Pelvic infection
- Pelvic pain
- Repeated pregnancy loss and more
Before the surgery, your doctor may use laparoscopy to diagnose the following conditions:
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Uterine fibroids
- Infertility
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Pelvic abscess
- Ovarian tumours or cysts
Preparing For Reproductive Surgery
Well, preparation will greatly depend on the type of surgery your doctor has suggested. In some cases, you may need to go for imaging tests. Inform your doctor about the medications you are currently using. You may need to stop using them before the surgery. After the surgery, you are not allowed to drive yourself. So, it will be better for you to visit the clinic with your friend or family member.
Different Types of Reproductive Surgeries
- Hysteroscopy
This is a reproductive surgery procedure under which a small instrument will be carefully inserted directly into the patient's uterine cavity. Using the device, the doctor can visualize the cavity and can diagnose some conditions, such as uterine septum, uterine fibroids, endometriosis and uterine polyps. This can be used to solve the anatomical problem. This procedure is generally carried out without using full anaesthesia. The recovery may take around one to three days.
- Laparoscopy
This is a minimally invasive reproductive surgery process. In this surgery, a small camera will be inserted through the patient's belly button under anaesthesia. Using the camera and through a very small incision, the surgeon can correct different reproductive disorders. This procedure is quite effective in removing scar tissues and lesions, repairing fallopian tubes and can be used to remove fibroids. The entire procedure will take a few hours, and you can resume your normal activities within 1 to 3 weeks.
- Laparotomy
In this surgery, the doctor will make a small abdominal incision to access the patient's pelvic cavities as well as the abdominal cavities. Generally, laparotomy has a longer recovery time as the incision will be created through the fascia and muscle, protecting the pelvic and abdominal organs. The patient can go home after staying in the hospital for a short observation period. Laparotomy has proved to be very effective in treating some major pelvic issues, such as large ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, etc. The doctor will discuss the benefits and risk factors with the patients before the surgery.
Risk Factors to Consider
Even though reproductive surgeries are safe, just like any surgical procedure, some patients may develop some complications after their reproductive surgery. Some possible complications are:
- Infection
- Damage to nearby body organs, such as ovaries, bowel, or bladder.
- Damage or tearing to the cervix. This is very rare.
- Issues due to the use of anaesthesia
- Issues with fluid or gas from the uterus.
If a patient develops any symptoms, such as heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fever, etc., after the procedure, she should consult with the doctor as soon as possible.
Reproductive Surgery, when done through an expert, is safe and can help women in treating issues related to their reproductive system. Talk to your doctor for more information.
As the name suggests, reproductive surgery is used to treat the issue that can cause infertility. Reproductive surgery is effective in treating uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and endometriosis. With this, you can restore your reproductive function.
The duration of the surgery can range from around 4 to 5 h. Your doctor will inform you about the outcomes, recovery duration and possible complications during the consultation.
More than 90 per cent of reproductive surgeries are invasive laparoscopies or hysteroscopies. Surgeries can be conducted on a same-day basis, and you can recover within 2 to 3 weeks. For a C-section, the recovery duration can be 4 to 6 weeks.
No. Reproductive surgery can enhance your fertility. Before any surgery, you can consult your doctor to understand the process and intentions.
Yes, reproductive surgery can also eliminate your pelvic pain if the reason behind the pain is fibroids or endometriosis.
