Endoscopy
Endoscopy is a procedure in which a thin, lighted tube (Endoscope) is inserted into a woman’s body to check for abnormalities. There are 2 main types of endoscopy procedures – Hysteroscopy and Laparoscopy.
Hysteroscopy
Hysteroscopy is the inspection of the uterine cavity by passing the endoscope through the cervix. This allows the ob-gyn to diagnosis any problems that may be present in the cavity of the uterus. It can also be used as a method of correction for several uterine problems. This is known as operative hysteroscopy and it can be used to treat polyps and fibroids. Operative hysteroscopy is also used to treat uterine septum which accounts for 80% to 90% of uterine malformations.
Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy involves the placement of the endoscope into the abdominal cavity through the navel. This is used to visualize the uterus, tubes, ovaries and the pelvis. The patency of the tubes is also checked at the same time by injecting a blue dye and making sure that there are no blockages. Certain abnormalities including fibroids, endometriosis and adhesions can also be treated at the same time – this process is known as operative laparoscopy.
