Laparoscopy may be indicated when symptoms are severe, persistent, confusing, or not managed medically.

The laparoscope is a narrow tube surgically inserted into the abdomen under general anesthesia. Although the incisions are small, the procedure should be considered a major surgery and is associated with infrequent, but serious, complications (such as laceration or puncture of major vessels or organs such as the bowels or bladder). Images of the abdominal cavity are displayed on a video screen, enabling the surgeon to evaluate the superficial appearance and structure of the abdominal organs.

This procedure is usually done in gynecology when there is a need to rule out endometriosis or adhesions.