Laparoscopy is often used to diagnose causes of abdominal pain. If the doctor finds that he or she can treat the condition during the procedure, diagnostic laparoscopy can turn into operative laparoscopy. This procedure is used to treat many health problems. Before undergoing laparoscopy, you and your doctor will discuss the procedure and any other treatment.

Endometriosis
Tissue like endometrium (the lining of the uterus) sometimes grows in places outside of the uterus. The tissue bleeds every month, as with a menstrual cycle. This condition is called endometriosis. It can cause pain, scar tissue, and infertility. One way to be certain that endometriosis is present is by laparoscopy. Sometimes, endometriosis can also be treated through the laparoscope.

Adhesions
Sometimes tissues in the abdomen stick together and form scar tissue called adhesions. This can happen because of infection, endometriosis, or surgery. Adhesions can cause pain. They often can be separated during laparoscopy.

Fibroids
Fibroids are growths that form on the in-side, outside, or within the wall of the uterus. Lapa-roscopy can diagnose some fibroids.

Ovarian cysts
Ovaries sometimes develop cysts (fluid-filled sacs). These cysts may be harmless, causing only mild pain. Some cause infertility or menstrual disorders. Some ovarian cysts may disappear after a short time. If they don't, your doctor may choose to remove them during laparoscopy.

Hysterectomy
The laparoscope can be used to as-sist in a vaginal hysterectomy (removal of the uterus through the vagina). The laparoscope is used to help the doctor see inside the abdomen during part of the surgery. Laparoscopy can also assist with the re-moval of the ovaries. It can be done to remove ova-ries alone, whether or not the uterus has already been removed.

Infertility and Sterilization
Women who have trouble getting pregnant may have laparoscopy to find problems like endometrio-sis or cysts. With laparoscopy, your doctor can also tell whether the fallopian tubes are blocked. Laparoscopy is also used for sterilization. In this operation, the doctor uses the laparoscope as a guide to block the fallopian tubes by cutting, clipping, or burning them. It is meant to be a permanent method of birth control.

Ectopic Pregnancy
When a woman has pain in her lower abdomen dur-ing early pregnancy, the doctor may suspect an ec-topic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is one that may be located in the tube instead of the uterus. It may rupture the tube and cause abdominal bleeding that may require emergency surgery. The doc-tor can perform a laparoscopy to diagnose and of-ten treat an ectopic pregnancy.

Benefits of Laparoscopy
In the past, most surgery involving reproductive or-gans was done by laparotomy. Now, many of these same procedures are done through the laparoscope. There are many benefits to laparoscopy-a shorter hospital stay, smaller incisions, and a shorter recovery.