Laparoscopy is done to:
- Check for and possibly take out abnormal growths (such as tumors) in the belly or pelvis.
- Check for and treat conditions such as endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), cysts, adhesions, fibroids, and infection.
- Do a biopsy.
- See whether cancer in another area of the body has spread to the belly.
- Check for damage to internal organs, such as the spleen, after an injury or accident.
- Do a tubal ligation. ("Having your tubes tied") to permanently prevent pregnancy.
- Fix a hiatal hernia or an inguinal hernia. A protrusion of internal abdominal contents through the abdominal wall.
- Take out organs, such as the uterus, spleen, gallbladder (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), ovaries, or appendix (appendectomy). Partial removal (resection) of the colon also can be done.
- Find the cause of sudden or ongoing pelvic pain.