So it’s confirmed… sigh… I will have to go through the laparoscopic ovarian drilling. I opted for it to be as early as possible so that i could get it over soon. Though it’s a day surgery, the fear is there. It’s the first time that I will be under the knife.

Adapted from http://women.webmd.com/laparoscopic-ovarian-drilling-ovarian-diathermy-for-pcos 

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is a surgical treatment that can trigger ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Electrocautery or a laser is used to destroy parts of the ovaries.

This surgery is not commonly used. But it can be an option for women who are still not ovulating after losing weight and trying fertility medicines.

Ovarian drilling is usually done through a small incision (laparoscopy), with general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a small cut (incision) in the abdomen at the belly button. The surgeon then places a tube to inflate the abdomen with a small amount of carbon dioxide gas so that he or she can insert the viewing instrument (laparoscope) without damage to the internal organs. The surgeon looks through the laparoscope at the internal organs. Surgical instruments may be inserted through the same incision or other small incisions in the pelvic area.

Because the incisions are so small, laparoscopy is often called “Band-Aid surgery.”

 It’s the aftermath that I am worried about:

Risks of laparoscopy include:

• Infection of the incision.
• Bleeding from the incision.
• Internal bleeding.
• Accidental injury to internal organs or major blood vessels, from the laparoscope or surgical instruments.
• Pain after the procedure, from inflating the abdomen with gas.
• Problems caused by anesthesia.
• Adhesions or scarring inside the body.

Warning: Images not for the faint-hearted.

Here’s a few photos I got off Google…(which I shouldn’t have bothered looking at!!)

Images of the ovaries after the drilling

🙁