Reproductive surgery can be used to help manage certain disorders of the male and female reproductive systems. For some people, the aim is just to improve comfort and quality of life. For others who have been struggling to fall pregnant, reproductive surgery can be the treatment that results in the best outcome - a healthy baby.
Dr Kate provides surgical treatment of disorders of the reproductive system for both men and women, caring for patients across the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of NSW. With further specialised training in male reproductive health and fertility, she will perform a comprehensive assessment of your fertility concerns before recommending surgical treatment.
Find out more about fertility care for men and women
Common disorders in women that can impair fertility include:
Adhesions occur when separate structures in the body become attached by scar tissue, whether from a condition such as endometriosis or from previous abdominal surgery. They may impair female fertility by interfering with the normal function of parts such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes. Laparoscopic surgery involves surgically separating these adhesions with a keyhole procedure, resulting in faster recovery and less pain.
Women with endometriosis experience painful, irregular periods, and a significant number are affected by infertility. Endometriosis occurs when the cells typically found in the lining of the uterus begin to grow elsewhere, such as throughout the abdomen or pelvis. The management of endometriosis can include hormone medications, physiotherapy, and lifestyle changes. In some cases, laparoscopic surgery may improve rates of spontaneous fertility and can help relieve pain associated with this condition.
Fibroids (non-cancerous growths developing from the muscle layer of the uterus), polyps (small protrusions growing from the lining of the uterus), scarring (such as from previous uterus surgery or pelvic infection), and congenital abnormalities can cause a variety of problems, including pain and infertility. Various surgical techniques are used to manage these conditions, which can help to restore normal fertility in many cases.
Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that may develop on the ovaries due to a hormonal imbalance or other gynaecological condition such as endometriosis. Some cysts on the ovaries are harmless and can be ignored as they will self-resolve, whilst others may require further investigation or removal. A laparoscopic (keyhole) procedure called a cystectomy can be performed to remove any problematic cysts.
Disorders of the male reproductive system that may be treated with surgery include:
A varicocele is an enlargement of the veins inside the scrotum, the sack of skin holding the testicles. The development of varicoceles can lead to poor sperm production and decreased testosterone. Removing a varicocele with a surgical procedure called a varicocelectomy may be necessary for some couples affected by male infertility.
Some men undergo a vasectomy as a form of contraception. This involves severing the tubes responsible for transporting sperm from the testicles and effectively making a man infertile. However, later in life, some men may decide that they would like to have children again. The process involves reattaching the ends of the vas deferens tubes together. However, be aware that reversing a vasectomy doesn’t always restore normal fertility.
This group of procedures aim to extract sperm for use in fertility treatments such as IVF or ICSI. Sperm retrieval may be helpful for men with a blockage obstructing the passage of sperm and semen, or for those with very low sperm count or other abnormal sperm findings.
