Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery)

What a laparoscopy involves

The NHS describes it as “a type of keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat conditions. It allows a surgeon to use only small cuts and a camera for procedures inside the tummy or pelvis.”

For fertility investigations, the NHS says a laparoscopy “involves making a small cut in your lower tummy so a thin tube with a camera at the end (a laparoscope) can be inserted to examine your womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries.” It adds: “Dye may be injected into your fallopian tubes through your cervix to highlight any blockages in them.”

The UK fertility regulator, the HFEA, describes the cuts: “Keyhole surgery uses a 1cm cut in the belly button (umbilicus) and two or three smaller cuts close to the pubic hair line. This type of surgery requires a general anaesthetic.” On time, the NHS says “If you're having a laparoscopy to diagnose a condition, it usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes. It'll be longer if you're having surgery to treat a condition.”

When it is used in fertility care

The HFEA describes the “Laparoscopy and dye test: used to inspect the entire pelvis to confirm that the tubes are open and healthy and check if there's any endometriosis or adhesions.”

On when it is chosen, the NHS says “Laparoscopy is usually only used if it's likely that you have a problem – for example, if you've had an episode of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in the past, or if scans suggest a possible blockage of one or both of your tubes.”

It can also treat. On endometriosis, the HFEA says “If the endometriosis is more extensive, involving other organs or significant cysts on your ovaries, you may be offered further surgery where the endometriotic tissue is removed, usually through laparoscopic surgery.” Before IUI, the HFEA notes the tubes must be checked, and that “Your clinic will check this using keyhole surgery, a vaginal ultrasound or an x-ray.” Whether it is appropriate in a particular case is a clinical decision for the treating doctor. This directory does not make that judgement.

What the NHS says about complications

The NHS states “A laparoscopy is a common procedure.” and “Complications are rare, but can include:”

• “needing to have open surgery with a larger cut”
• “a hernia”
• “damage to an organ, such as your bladder”
• “damage to a blood vessel”
• “a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the general anaesthetic”
• “blood clots, such as a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) or pulmonary embolism”

A related procedure that looks inside the womb rather than around it is covered on the hysteroscopy page.

Questions

Why would a fertility clinic do a laparoscopy?

The HFEA describes the laparoscopy and dye test as “used to inspect the entire pelvis to confirm that the tubes are open and healthy and check if there's any endometriosis or adhesions.”

Will I be asleep?

The HFEA says keyhole surgery “requires a general anaesthetic.”

What can go wrong?

The NHS says “Complications are rare, but can include:” the list quoted in full above.

Sources

• NHS, Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery), read 25 September 2026.
• NHS, Infertility: diagnosis, read 25 September 2026.
• HFEA, Infertility surgery for women, read 25 September 2026.
• HFEA, Intrauterine insemination (IUI), read 25 September 2026.
• Clinic data: each clinic's own website, as read by this directory; registry level from the National ART & Surrogacy Registry extract.