What you need to know about endometriosis surgery

If medication hasn’t been helping your endometriosis symptoms, you and your doctor may be discussing endometriosis surgery. Surgically treating endometriosis can help relieve pain and other symptoms. Additionally, if you are having problems getting pregnant, a procedure may help improve your chances of conceiving. Here, the experienced physicians at Athens ObGyn explain the types of surgery for this condition and how they work.

There are two types of endometriosis surgery 

Basically, there are two types of surgery for treating endometriosis.

• If you want to have children or preserve your fertility, a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure is the best choice. During laparoscopy, the surgeon makes tiny incisions in the abdomen to remove the adhesions or endometriosis implants. This type of procedure provides relief from pain, infertility and other symptoms. However, the symptoms may return in the coming years.
• If you have severe symptoms and have tried more conservative options, you may also be considering a hysterectomy. This procedure involves removing the uterus. The surgeons at Athens ObGyn perform this surgery using minimally invasive procedures. Doing so allows for a faster recovery with fewer complications.

In rare instances, traditional endometriosis surgery, which requires a larger abdominal incision, is necessary to address extremely severe cases.

What to expect if you need laparoscopic surgery to remove implants and adhesions

Your minimally invasive procedure will probably be an outpatient operation. If your surgery is complicated, you may need to stay in the hospital for one or more nights. Here are some things you should know about the surgery

• You will receive general anesthesia to keep you comfortable while our surgeons proceed with treating endometriosis.
• During the surgery, the doctor will fill your abdomen with gas to make it easier to see your internal organs. You may feel puffy and bloated after endometriosis surgery, so it’s important to wear or bring loose-fitting clothing to wear after the procedure.
• You need to have a family member or friend drive you home after surgery. It is helpful to have someone with you that night, and preferably for a day or two after the procedure.
• You may experience pain in your shoulder from the gas you received during the procedure. You may feel nauseous too.
• Recovery from surgery generally takes about two weeks. For the first few days, you should expect to feel tired. During this time, our physicians ask that you do not have sex, bathe in a tub, go swimming or douche.

The highly trained surgeons at Athens ObGyn have the experience and expertise to help women who need surgery. Contact us for an appointment to learn more about treating endometriosis.