Overview

After initial assessment, surgery may be recommended to either investigate the cause of infertility for both men and women, or to overome factors influencing their ability to conceive.

For women, a laparoscopy may be recommended to check tubal patency (checking your tubes are open), and also the condition of your uterus and ovaries.

For men, where a semen analysis has determined poor sperm numbers,  poor sperm morphology or lowered mobility, microsurgery may be recommended to determine the cause of the problem. 

Female fertility surgery: Laparoscopy

A laparoscopy, also known as keyhole surgery, involves a laparoscope being introduced through a small incision in the abdomen. A video camera is usually fitted to an endoscope (a thin telescopic instrument) so the specialist can view the images on a video monitor. 

Conditions that can be treated during a laparoscopy include:

• endometriosis
• tubal microsurgery
• removal of fibroids
• correction of uterine abnormalities. 

Read more about what is involved in laporoscopy surgery here.
 

Male fertility surgery: Microsurgery

Microsurgery is a form of surgery commonly used where there is poor sperm numbers in the ejaculate or even no sperm at all.

Microsurgery can be used to:

• bypass blockages in the epididymis
• treat a varicocele (swelling of the veins about the testis), which allows the testis to produce better sperm
• perform surgical sperm retrieval where there is no sperm in the ejaculate
• perform vasectomy reversal  
• urinary tract reconstruction.

Read more about what is involved in microsurgery here.