How is Endometriosis Diagnosed?Laparoscopy
There is only one way to get a true diagnosis of Endometriosis. This is through a small procedure called a Laparoscopy. This is done under general anaesthetic and is where a small telescope with a light and camera attached to the end of it (this is the laparoscope) is inserted into the pelvis via the belly button. They fill the abdomen with Carbon Dioxide gas to extend it, therefore giving the surgeon more space to look around and to see the organs. however this does mean that even though they remove the gas afterwards, the patient often suffers from a bit of trapped wind after the procedure. This is harmless and will soon pass. They use the laparoscope to look around the abdomen to find any Endometriosis. If they find any they make another small cut to insert the surgical instruments used to treat it. You usually wake up with three very little cuts (sometime it can be more depeding on what the surgeon had to do). One on your belly button, one on the side and another on the bikini line. each cut is about 1 cm long. A laparoscopy is usually done as day surgery. Even though it is a small procedure you must talk to your surgeon/doctor about any concerns you may have and to make sure that you understand the procedure and what is involved. like any operation there are risks. Ultrasound/X-ray/MRI/CT Scan Often you will have had one or all of these scans before the Laparoscopy in my experience they do not show the Endometriosis but they can show cysts caused by the Endometriosis. |