Some people are given an injection of dye into a vein in the arm, but this usually does not cause any discomfort. It will probably take several days for the results of your tests to be ready, and this waiting period will obviously be an anxious time for you. It may help if you can find a close friend or relative with whom to talk things over. If there has been a build up of fluid in the abdomen a sample can be taken to check for any cancer cells. The doctor will use a local anaesthetic to numb the area before passing a small needle through the skin.
Some fluid is drawn off into a syringe and examined under a microscope.
This is a small operation which allows the doctor to look at the ovaries and the surrounding area. It is done under a general anaesthetic and will mean a short stay in hospital. The pain is often eased by walking about or by taking sips of peppermint water. After a laparoscopy you will have one or two stitches in place in your lower abdomen. You should be able to get up as soon as the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off.