| Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) | | | | through which the doctor can view the organs. Then, |
| have an imbalance in their hormonal systems that | | | | a laser or electrosurgical needle is used to puncture |
| often leads to infertility. Simply put, their bodies | | | | the ovary 10-12 times. |
| produce too many androgens, or male hormones. | | | | The Results: |
| There are several options for women with PCOS and | | | | The treatment results in a lowering of male |
| most women, especially if under 35, can get pregnant | | | | hormones within days. After surgery ovulation occurs |
| with modest medical assistance. These options | | | | spontaneously in 70-90% of women. The probability |
| mostly consist of drug therapies that attempt to | | | | of pregnancy after one year is 40-60%. If pregnancy |
| balance out hormone levels and promote ovulation. | | | | still does not occur after ovarian drilling, the |
| There is also an option called In Vitro Maturation | | | | procedure has been seen to increase the effects of |
| (IVM) in which eggs are harvested and brought to | | | | drug therapy if it is re-administered after the drilling |
| maturity outside the body and then implanted back | | | | procedure. |
| into the body. | | | | The Risks: |
| But if you are a woman with PCOS and the weight | | | | The main problems associated with surgery include |
| loss and/or hormone drug treatments haven't | | | | adhesion formation, possible scar tissue on the |
| worked for you, and IVM either didn't work or isn't | | | | ovaries, and the risk of destruction of the ovaries |
| appealing to you at this time, there is yet another | | | | leading to ovarian failure. In addition, there are those |
| option! | | | | risks that are always associated with surgery and |
| What is ovarian drilling? | | | | anesthesia. All of these side effects are rare. |
| Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling is a surgical option to the | | | | Conclusion: |
| PCOS problem. It is not a particularly common option | | | | Women with PCOS have lots of options. Ovarian |
| yet so the studies are based on about 1,000 women | | | | drilling is not as common as the other treatments and |
| who have had it done. It is a surgical treatment in | | | | is still being studied. It is an option for people who |
| which a laser is used to destroy part of the ovaries, | | | | have tried the hormone drugs and weight-loss |
| lowering androgen hormone levels and triggering | | | | options and have found those unsuccessful. And |
| ovulation in women with PCOS. | | | | though the title makes it sound pretty daunting, the |
| The Procedure: | | | | procedure is sometimes referred to as "Band-aid |
| General anesthesia is administered. An incision is cut in | | | | surgery" because the incision made is so small. If it is |
| the abdomen at the belly button. A tube is placed | | | | of interest to you, bring it up with your physician to |
| inside to inflate the abdomen so that the viewing | | | | determine whether it might be an appropriate |
| instrument can be inserted without damaging any | | | | therapy in your case. |
| internal organs. A laparoscope is then inserted, | | | | |