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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Why is it not possible to perform a laparoscopy for an overweight individual?

    Related Topics
    Endometriosis Weight Management
    I recently visited a gynaecologist to once and all get an official diagnosis and treatment for my Endometriosis. I was told that due to being overweight (130kgs) that they could not perform a Laparoscopy to diagnose because it would definitely fail. Is this true? I've suffered from period pain all my life, from the moment I started my period when I was 11 until now (I'm 32). I've been told by several doctors that I probably have Endometriosis due a bunch of symptoms. Severe pain, pain from the front to back, leg pain, back aches, migraines, depression, weight issues, pain during intercourse, pain when I'm not on my period, heavy periods etc etc. The list goes on. But when I finally go to a Gynecologist i'm told that nope, you're too overweight and we can't do anything for you until you drop a minimum of 10kgs preferably more. I would really like to hear from health professionals why this couldn't be performed?
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    Thanks

    Dr Joseph Jabbour

    Gynaecologist, Gynaecologist - Infertility (IVF) Specialist, Obstetrician

    Dr Joseph Jabbour is a specialist Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist with Monash IVF situated in Sunnybank (Brisbane Southside). Dr Jabbour has had the … View Profile

    It certainly seems like you have the symptoms of endometriosis and would benefit from a laparoscopy and treatment of endometriosis.

    Doing laparoscopic surgery on an overweight or obese patient can be challenging. The difficulty is mainly in the entry technique into the abdominal cavity so as to inflate it with gas. There is also the increased risk of anaesthesia, infection, blood clots, and increased risk of conversion to an open procedure. 

    Most doctors would advise for weight loss to improve your health... But in terms of laparoscopic surgery, being overweight or obese is not a contraindication to laparoscopic surgery. You can obtain a second opinion from an advanced laparoscopic gynaecologist if you are unhappy with the advice you obtained from your current doctor. Both myself and several of my colleagues have performed laparoscopic surgery on women of your weight and above.

    Alternatively you can try the Mirena IUD in the meantime whilst you lose the weight. The mirena can control your pain and is an excellent option if surgery is not readily available to you.

    Good luck.

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