What You Should Know About PCOS and Fertility
If you’ve been trying to conceive and haven’t had success, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) could be the cause. Keep reading to learn about the link between this hormonal condition and how we can help.
If you’ve been told you have endometriosis and surgery could help, it’s natural to have questions and concerns. At Kelly Morales, MD in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Morales uses the precise and innovative da Vinci® robotic surgery system to help patients suffering from endometriosis.
Instead of the invasive surgeries of the past that necessitated longer recovery times and kept you from participating fully in your life for longer, advances in surgical technology allow trained medical doctors, like Dr. Morales, to achieve excellent results with tiny incisions and precise surgical techniques.
Here’s what you need to know about robotic surgery for endometriosis and whether it might be right for you.
Your endometrial tissue forms the lining of your uterus. Each month it thickens in preparation for pregnancy, then breaks down and sheds if you don’t conceive. When you have endometriosis, these tissues grow outside your uterus. As your menstrual cycle continues each month, these misplaced tissues, called endometrial implants, keep growing and thickening.
Because they aren’t in your uterus, however, the endometrial tissue can’t shed and leave your body normally. The result? There’s inflammation and irritation of the surrounding tissue that causes pain, cramping, and irregular bleeding. Over time, endometriosis causes adhesions, which are like scars, and the condition can even lead to infertility.
Robotic surgery is a special type of minimally invasive surgery, which means it’s performed using tiny incisions. Dr. Morales uses the da Vinci surgical system that couples high-definition, three-dimensional cameras with specialized surgical tools on robotic arms that allow more precise movements in small spaces, like the areas surrounding your uterus.
If you have endometriosis, robot-assisted surgeries can help in the management of symptoms by eliminating scar tissue and removing endometrial implants. You can rest easy knowing Dr. Morales is an expert at performing robotic surgeries for endometriosis.
The da Vinci robotic system allows Dr. Morales to stay in complete control during your surgery while improving the efficiency and precision of the procedure. This surgery system gives Dr. Morales a magnified, 3D view of the surgical site, and the robotic arms follow Dr. Morales’ movements with a degree of precision and range of motion traditional surgery can’t match.
When they hear the words “robotic surgery,” many of our patients wonder who is operating: Dr. Morales or a robot? Rest assured that Dr. Morales is in the procedure room with you and in charge the entire time.
Using a console, Dr. Morales directs the procedure using a system that allows her to control the robotic arms. The system never makes decisions or performs incisions on its own — it only responds to Dr. Morales’ finger and hand movements.
Robot-assisted surgery for endometriosis has many benefits. Some of these are direct benefits while other are indirect but still powerful.
For example, because robotic surgery is minimally invasive, one direct benefit is shorter recovery time. And because Dr. Morales has better access and a superb view of the operative area, a more precise surgery is an indirect benefit.
Other benefits include:
All surgical procedures and the anesthesia they require have some risks. Robot-assisted surgery has fewer risks than traditional surgeries for endometriosis, but still have some you should be aware of. These include the possibility of bleeding or infection, breathing-related problems from the anesthesia, or a negative reaction to administered medications.
Dr. Morales discusses the risks and benefits with you as you make your decision about surgery for endometriosis.
Many of our patients with endometriosis are good candidates for robotic surgery. However, there are conditions that may reduce your candidacy for the procedure, including:
Dr. Morales evaluates your condition and overall health to determine if robot-assisted surgery is right for you. She takes time to answer your questions and concerns to arrive at a customized plan of treatment that meets your unique needs.
Wondering if robotic surgery for endometriosis is right for you? Contact our office in San Antonio, Texas, by calling 210-570-7277 to schedule an appointment and learn more.
