Is Laparoscopy Beneficial for Endometriosis?

Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure and an advanced tool that is used in different areas of medical science; infertility treatment being one of them. Endometriosis, one of the most common causes of infertility, and a painful disorder in a women’s reproductive system, is usually treated using laparoscopy.

What is Endometriosis?

The abnormal growth of endometrial cells outside the uterus that attaches to other organs in the pelvic cavity such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries is known as Endometriosis. The endometriosis implants will bleed during the menstrual period. As the tissues become enlarged, inflammation may cause pain. One of the possible reasons for endometriosis may be excess estrogen levels in a women’s body. There is an increased incidence among family members suggesting a genetic component to the disease. Endometriosis may affect fertility in many ways. Some of these include:

1. The over-production of prostaglandins which are hormones that plays an important role in the fertilization of the egg and implantation of the embryo.
2. Ovulation disturbances due to involvement of the ovaries
3. Pelvic scarring restricting the tubes and ovaries
4. Painful intercourse resulting in decreased frequency
5. Immunological abnormalities leading to an increased risk of miscarriage

Laparoscopy as a Treatment Option for Endometriosis

In women with moderate to severe endometriosis, laparoscopic surgery is an effective treatment for endometriosis-related infertility, as it leads to better pregnancy rates. It is unclear whether mild disease is similarly impacted by laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopy is conducted to confirm the diagnosis and remove adhesions caused by endometriosis.

Laparoscopy, considered as one of the least invasive surgical treatment option that is available today, is usually done under general anesthesia. The procedure includes insertion of an instrument that has a tiny camera attached to it with a light, known as laparoscope, through a small abdominal incision. More than one incision may be required for inserting other surgical instruments for better access.

The Need of Laparoscopy

While treating Endometriosis, Laparoscopy is usually carried out for checking and treating the following:

• Examining the pelvic organs causing pelvic pain.
• Removal of endometriosis implants and scar tissues.
• Removal of endometriosis cyst on an ovary (endometrioma).
• Endometriosis pain after a hormone therapy.

Disadvantages of Laparoscopy used for Endometriosis

Though laparoscopy is a great tool, it does have certain drawbacks when it comes to diagnosing Endometriosis. A laparoscopic surgery is not always helpful to patients of endometriosis on a long term basis. There might be some accidental damage to the surrounding organs while the doctor maneuvers the instruments inside the body. There are also chances of the incision getting infected at times.

A Positive Note

The heartening news is that having endometriosis does not automatically mean that you will never have children. Rather, it means that you may face problems in the journey towards parenthood.
At East Bay Fertility Center, California, (www.ebfertility.com) an experienced team of doctors headed by Dr Ellen Snowden specialize in examining and treating potential causes of both male and female infertility including Endometriosis diagnosis and treatment. The process of treatment starts with free initial consultation with East Bay’s infertility specialist followed by a thorough diagnostic evaluation. The next step would be to identify the problem and start with the treatment.

With the right course of treatment and medical intervention, East Bay Fertility Center is committed to assisting couples facing problems conceiving. The goal is to help them overcome their infertility problem in the shortest possible time and realize their dreams of having a healthy baby.

For more information on fertility treatment options log on to http://ebfertility.com/

Is the Recession Leading to Postponement of Parenthood Plans?

People are willing to spend whatever it takes to fulfill their dreams of having a family. But in these tough economic times, deciding to postpone having a child or adding to the family is a natural consequence as women struggle to hold on to their jobs and job prospects are uncertain. With the economy putting strain on finances, employers cutting benefits, savings dwindling and the cost of raising and educating children at an all time high, prospective parents are now filled with doubts about their ability to provide for children.

A fall out of the economic situation is that many people are losing their health insurance. The financial crisis is taking a personal toll on couples who have no option but to consciously decide to postpone parenthood till the economic downturn improves.

But there are many who advocate that parenthood decisions should not be tied to finances or economic cycles. There are optimists who suggest that in fact women who suddenly find themselves out of work without much chance of finding work in the near future might well decide that now is the time to have a baby.

Link between Recession and Birth Rates

Historically, the birth rate declines when there is a national crisis or recession. In the USA, during the Great Depression, the total fertility rate (TFR) reduced to 2.1 children per woman in 1936 and during the inflationary oil crisis decade of the 1970s the TFR set an all-time low record of 1.7. Obstetricians expect to see a drop in pregnancies in the coming months, especially among middle-class families with shrinking incomes.

Impact of Recession on Infertility Patients

But for most couples seeking infertility treatment, time is not on their side with those opting for treatment mostly in their 30’s. Most of them cannot wait for an economic recovery to happen, or for credit to free up as it could mean they may never have children, due to age-related declines in fertility. The economic recession may persist a few years, but for most couples with infertility issues, the biological clock does not stop tickling down.

How has the recession affected fertility clinics?

So far fertility clinics seem to have been untouched by the economic slide with consults for new IVF patients holding steady. It seems that people still hold family to be most important in their priority list in spite of the financial difficulties they have to deal with. Reproductive medicine is thriving despite the troubled economy, and most couples are ready to take on the physical, financial and emotional challenges that treatments bring about.

In the current scenario, there is an urgent need to devise solutions to make treatment more affordable and accessible for infertility patients. Some private clinics are offering money-back guarantees, where patients will receive a refund if they fail to conceive within three cycles of infertility treatment. Most health insurance does not cover fertility treatment and there is an urgent need to ease the financial burden of those who are opting for IVF and other infertility treatment towards their pursuit of having a baby.

Dublin, California based East Bay Fertility Center (www.ebfertiltity.com) has always empathized with couples struggling to find ways to finance their infertility treatment. East Bay Fertility Center offers in-house financing in order to make the cost of treatment affordable. East Bay Fertility Center also has arrangements with financial institutions that provide financing to their patients. Diagnostic testing and IUI (artificial insemination) may be covered by insurance depending on the diagnosis. Corporate discounts are also available and the cost for testing and treatment will be reviewed with each patient at the time of the free initial consultation.