The treatment of infertility requires careful evaluation to determine the precise abnormalities preventing conception. Outpatient procedures such as laparoscopy (lah-puh-RAW-skuh-pee) and hysteroscopy are now available to check the female pelvic anatomy and to fix any problems contributing to infertility. Laparoscopy utilizes a thin, tube-like telescope inserted through the belly button to view the uterus, tubes, and ovaries. A laser is attached to the laparoscope to destroy any abnormal scar tissue, cysts, or growths of endometriosis (in-doh-me-tree-OH-sis), which can compromise fertility. Hysteroscopy uses the same type of telescope, but it's placed through the cervical opening to check the inside of the womb, where the baby will live for nine months. Scar tissue, fibroids, and tumors can be easily removed by hysteroscopy.
