If you've had laparoscopy, it has shown that the organs in your belly (abdomen) are all normal and that you don't have endometriosis or pelvic adhesions. These are bands of scarlike tissue that form between two surfaces inside the body due to inflammation from a miscarriage or surgery, or after an infection or injury.
In diagnostic laparoscopy, your surgeon makes a small cut (incision) in the skin, usually near your belly button. Then they put a hollow tube with a video camera on the end, called a laparoscope, into this incision. They may also put in a needle or a smaller hollow tube, called a trocar. Carbon dioxide gas is pumped into the abdomen through these instruments to make the area expand and help your doctor see the organs better. Other tools may also be inserted through the trocars to perform surgical tasks. Your surgeon will tell you ahead of time if they need to use these.
When your doctor is finished, they release the gas in your abdomen and close your cuts with sutures or Dermabond(r) (skin glue) or Steri-Strips(tm) (surgical tape). Your incisions will be covered with bandages.
You'll go home either on the same day as your procedure or the next day. You'll need to arrange for someone to drive you because the anaesthetic may affect your ability to drive. When you get home, you should change the dressings on your incisions if they become wet. You may have some pain from your incisions, but you can take medicine to manage it.