What is gynecological endoscopy?
Gynecological endoscopy uses specialized instruments to diagnose and treat some of the most common women’s health conditions, such as endometriosis. The OB/GYN team at Mott Women Healthcare performs advanced surgical endoscopy techniques, including:
Hysteroscopy
During hysteroscopy, your provider at Mott Women Healthcare inserts a thin, lighted instrument called a hysteroscope through your vagina and into the opening of your cervix. The hysteroscope contains a camera at the tip, which transmits an image of the inside of your uterus onto a screen.
Laparoscopy
Similar to hysteroscopy, laparoscopy involves a thin, lighted instrument with a camera. Laparoscopy differs in that your provider makes a tiny incision on your abdomen and inserts the laparoscope through that.
When would I need gynecological endoscopy?
Hysteroscopy allows your provider to visually examine the inside of your uterus, while laparoscopy gives them the ability to see all your pelvic organs without making a large incision.
Your provider at Mott Women Healthcare may use hysteroscopy to perform the following:
- Diagnose the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding
- Locate an intrauterine device (IUD)
- Remove abnormal tissue from the uterine wall
They may use laparoscopy for other needs, such as:
- Diagnose and treat conditions such as fibroids
- Remove a growth such as an ovarian cyst
- Perform tubal ligation, or permanent female sterilization
In many cases, the team at Mott Women Healthcare can use laparoscopy to perform hysterectomy surgery, or removal of the uterus.
What are the benefits of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy?
In addition to providing critical information about the condition of your pelvic organs, procedures such as laparoscopy and hysteroscopy allow the team at Mott Women Healthcare to treat many gynecologic conditions without open surgery.
As a minimally invasive procedure, laparoscopy only requires tiny incisions, about the size of a buttonhole. This technique provides several advantages over open surgery, such as:
- Less scarring
- Less pain
- Reduced risk of infection
- Faster recovery time
- Shorter hospital stay
Since hysteroscopy doesn’t involve making an incision, this procedure doesn’t damage healthy tissue or leave a scar at all.
To learn more about gynecological endoscopy and minimally invasive procedures, call Mott Women Healthcare or book an appointment online today.
