The use of laparoscopy in gynaecology

Diagnostic laparoscopy is of most value in the evaluation of infertility and for completing the gynaecological investigation of obscure cases of chronic pelvic pain. Its use to exclude ectopic pregnancy, salpingitis and pelvic cancer is more controversial. The management of some cases of primary amenorrhoea is aided by laparoscopic gonadal biopsy. The excessive demand for female sterilization will ensure that the laparoscope continues to be used for this purpose and is leading to a compromise. The surgical techniques which have been proved to be most effective are being replaced by methods favoured for their potential reversibility and rapid patient turn-over. If all our laparoscopes were abandoned, gynaecological surgery would perhaps not suffer a major setback, but, for the present, those who neglect laparoscopy are losing an important dimension of modern practice.