Gynecologic Conditions

Gynecologic Laparoscopy: What to Expect Before, During and After

By the Find Her Doctor editorial team · Updated November 1, 2026 · 5 min read

Gynecologic laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgery: the surgeon slips a thin camera (a laparoscope) through a small cut near your belly button to see and treat the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and pelvic lining. It's used to diagnose and treat endometriosis, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, fibroids and more. Most people go home the same day and recover much faster than after open surgery.

The thing nobody warns you about? Your shoulder will probably hurt more than your belly for a day or two. Here's that and everything else, from the night before to a few weeks out.

What it's used for

Laparoscopy can be diagnostic (to look and take samples) or operative (to treat a problem), and often it's both in one trip. Common reasons:

• Endometriosis: to confirm the diagnosis and remove or destroy lesions. See our endometriosis guide.
• Ovarian cysts: to remove a cyst and keep the ovary, or to remove an ovary. More on ovarian cysts.
• Chronic pelvic pain: to look for causes like endometriosis or adhesions.
• Ectopic pregnancy: to remove a pregnancy growing outside the uterus, often in a fallopian tube.
• Infertility evaluation: to check whether the tubes are open and look for endometriosis or scar tissue.
• Tubal sterilization or removal of the fallopian tubes.
• Myomectomy: removing fibroids.
• Hysterectomy: removing the uterus. Read about types of hysterectomy.
• Ovarian torsion: untwisting or removing an ovary.

Laparoscopy vs. open surgery

Laparoscopy isn't right for every situation. A very large mass, a lot of scar tissue or certain cancers may need open surgery. Sometimes a surgeon starts laparoscopically and switches to an open approach for safety. Ask about that possibility ahead of time so it's not a shock when you wake up.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopy is a type of laparoscopy where the surgeon controls the instruments from a console, using similar small cuts. Whether robotic or traditional is better depends on the procedure and the surgeon's experience.

The week before

Your team gives you specific instructions. Common ones:

• A medication review, including blood thinners, diabetes medicines and supplements. Bring the actual bottles or a photo of each label.
• Pre-op testing, sometimes bloodwork or an EKG depending on your age and health
• Arranging a ride home. You can't drive after anesthesia, and many hospitals won't let you leave alone in a cab or rideshare. Line up a person.
• Someone to stay with you the first night, if possible
• Stocking up: loose high-waisted pants, a heating pad, pads, easy food, a stool softener if your surgeon recommends one

The day of surgery

You'll get instructions on when to stop eating and drinking. You'll have a pregnancy test when you arrive, meet the anesthesia team and your surgeon, and sign consent forms. This is a good moment to ask your final questions.

What happens in the operating room:

1. Anesthesia. General anesthesia, so you're asleep and don't feel anything.
2. Gas. The surgeon makes a small cut, often in the belly button, and fills the abdomen with carbon dioxide gas. This lifts the abdominal wall away from the organs so the surgeon can see.
3. Camera. The laparoscope sends images to a screen.
4. Instruments. One or more extra small cuts in the lower belly for tools.
5. Treatment. The surgeon examines your pelvic organs and does any planned treatment.
6. Closing. The gas is let out and the cuts are closed with stitches, glue or small strips.

A uterine manipulator, placed through the vagina, is often used to move the uterus for a better view, which is why you may spot afterward. A diagnostic laparoscopy may take under an hour. More complex surgery takes longer.

Incisions are usually small, often under an inch each, in or near the belly button and lower abdomen. They fade over time.

Days 1 to 3

What's normal:

• Belly soreness around the cuts
• Shoulder or upper back pain. Leftover gas irritates the diaphragm, and the nerve refers the pain to your shoulder. It usually fades in a few days. Walking helps it absorb, and many people find a heating pad on the shoulder helps.
• Bloating. You may look a few months pregnant briefly. It goes down.
• Nausea or a sore throat from the breathing tube
• Light vaginal spotting
• Tiredness that's out of proportion to the size of the cuts

The first couple of weeks

• Walk early and often. It helps clear the gas and lowers clot risk.
• Follow the pain plan your team gave you.
• Keep incisions clean and dry and follow wound care instructions.
• Ask about limits. Lifting, exercise, sex and tampons may be off-limits for a while, depending on what was done.
• Work: many people go back within several days after a diagnostic laparoscopy, longer after operative procedures. If your commute involves a lot of stairs or standing on a packed train, factor that in, or ask about a few remote days.

Risks

Laparoscopy is generally safe. Possible risks include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Injury to the bowel, bladder, ureters or blood vessels
• Blood clots
• Hernia at an incision site
• Reactions to anesthesia
• Needing to convert to open surgery

Will it affect my fertility?

A diagnostic laparoscopy on its own usually doesn't. Some operative procedures, like removing endometriosis or scar tissue, may even help fertility for some people. Others, such as removing a tube or ovary or surgery on the ovaries, can affect it. If you hope to get pregnant someday, tell your surgeon beforehand so they can plan for it.

Questions to ask your surgeon

• What exactly do you plan to do, and what might you do if you find something unexpected?
• Will you take biopsies?
• Is there a chance my ovary or tube will need to be removed?
• Will I go home the same day?
• When can I go back to work, exercise and sex?
• When will I get my results, and how?
• How many of this specific procedure do you do a year?

Ask for a copy of your operative report and pathology results. Pictures from surgery are sometimes included too. They're useful if you see other specialists later.

When to call your provider

Call your surgeon right away if you have:

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
• Belly pain that gets worse instead of better, or new belly swelling
• Redness, warmth, pus or bleeding from an incision
• Ongoing nausea or vomiting
• Trouble peeing or pain when you pee
• Heavy vaginal bleeding

Call 911 or go to an emergency department for chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or pain and swelling in one leg.

Finding a gynecologic surgeon in New York

Many gynecologists do laparoscopy, and some focus on minimally invasive surgery for complex endometriosis or large fibroids. Start with gynecologists in Manhattan or Suffolk County, or use our provider search anywhere in New York City, Long Island or the Hudson Valley.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• ACOG — Laparoscopy (Patient FAQ)
• ACOG — Endometriosis (Patient FAQ)
• MedlinePlus — Laparoscopy
• MedlinePlus — Pelvic laparoscopy

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.