Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling (Ovarian Diathermy) for PCOS
Females with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) come across ovulation problems. The treatment of choice is laparoscopic ovarian drilling after the failure of other conservative methods (weight loss or fertility medicines). This surgical treatment helps in triggering ovulation in these females. Electrocautery or a laser enables the destruction of certain parts of the ovary. The best doctors for PCOS treatment in Indore at Sahaj Hospital. Our expert team offers personalized care and advanced treatments to help you manage PCOS effectively.
Laparoscopic instruments help in carrying out the ovarian drilling procedure. The incision on the abdomen and in the pelvic region allows the smooth insertion of the laparoscope and laparoscopic surgical instruments. A gas (carbon-di-oxide) is used for inflating the abdomen before the laparoscopic procedure begins. This gas helps in easy visualization of the internal organs of the abdomen without damaging them.
What To Expect After Surgery
The patient can go home from the hospital after few hours of observation on the same day. The patient can resume normal daily activities within 24 hours.
Returning to the normal activities of daily living depends on the recovery status of the patient, which may be as short as few days to as long as 2 to 4 weeks.
Is ovarian drilling safe?
Like any other surgical procedures, laparoscopic ovarian drilling too has its risks, which include:
- A very mild risk of bleeding, infection and death
- Risk of anesthesia
- Damage to the internal organs due to the instruments used
- Major damage to the ovary can diminish egg production, leading to early menopause at a very young age
- The formation of scar tissue between the ovaries and the fallopian tubes may lead to delayed conception after the procedure
The risks mentioned above do not allow the procedure to be conducted on every infertile woman. Any woman with the polycystic ovarian syndrome is the right candidate for this procedure, that too, when other medical means have failed in getting her pregnant.
Why It Is Done?
It is a procedure that enables infertile women (infertility due to polycystic ovarian syndrome) to conceive again. Destruction of some regions of the ovary help in resuming the ovulation cycles.
How Well It Works
The prevalence of getting pregnant is about 50% after undergoing the ovarian drilling procedure. Amer et al (2002) in their study reported that there was a significant reduction in the rates of miscarriages after ovarian drilling procedure (it was from 54% earlier to 17% after laparoscopic ovarian drilling).