Surgical evaluation of infertility may help you conceive

Our Nashville fertility specialists often recommend surgical evaluation of infertility when an ultrasound, blood test or hysterosalpingogram reveal abnormal results.

The most common surgical evaluation of infertility

Laparoscopy and hysteroscopy are the most common surgical evaluations of infertility. During these minimally invasive outpatient procedures, a fertility specialist places a small telescope into the patient. The telescope includes a camera, which is connected to a computer monitor where the pelvic structures can be viewed.

• Laparoscopy. The fertility specialist places the telescope through a small incision in the patient’s belly button, while the patient is under general anesthesia. The recovery time is usually two to three days. Physicians use laparoscopy to evaluate endometriosis, scar tissue or fibroids.
• Hysteroscopy. Surgical evaluation of infertility that involve the telescope being inserted through the cervix, and do not require an incision, are called hysteroscopy. The recovery time for this treatment is usually 24 hours as the patient receives IV sedation, instead of general anesthesia. Physicians can use hysteroscopy to evaluate a uterine septum, polyps or fibroids.

Our Nashville fertility specialists can treat many abnormalities found at the time of the surgical evaluation, reducing the need for additional surgical procedures.

Abnormalities that might require a surgical evaluation for diagnosis

While our Nashville fertility specialists can discover many causes of infertility with nonsurgical evaluation, some abnormalities are more commonly diagnosed with surgical evaluation.

• Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a disorder in which the uterine lining grows on structures outside of the uterus. When the most common symptom of this condition, heavy and painful periods, is not present a surgical evaluation is often needed for diagnosis.
• Uterine defects. Defects in the uterus, such as polyps, scar tissue, malformations or fibroids, may need to be evaluated through surgical evaluations for infertility.
• Fallopian tube damage or disease. The fallopian tubes consist of two ducts that connect the ovaries to the uterus. When damage or disease in the fallopian tubes cause blockages, it can prevent the sperm from reaching the egg, or the fertilized egg from reaching the uterus.

Our Nashville fertility specialists can help you determine whether surgical evaluations of infertility are right for you, and support you in planning your next steps.

Contact us for more information.