I have been a long-time sufferer of PCOS and have tried most of the options out there to combat the symptoms. Glucophage, Provera, herbal treatments, numerous birth control pills to help regulate my cycles, Clomid, and the ever popular diet and exercise. The list goes on.
Of all the cruel side effects of this disease, infertility has been the most painful. So, after 9 years of trying to get pregnant, my doctor suggested ovarian drilling, but didn’t tell me much about it. Here are a few things that I learned about the procedure that helped me in making the decision:
What is ovarian drilling? Women with PCOS often have small cysts develop on their ovaries when they fail to ovulate. These cysts, which look like tiny blisters, produce testosterone, further contributing to the hormonal imbalance. Ovarian drilling is used to “poke holes” through these tiny cysts. This reduces the total amount of testosterone being produced and gives PCOS sufferers a fighting chance at ovulation.
How is it done? It is a relatively simple procedure. You will be put under general anesthesia, so you won’t feel or remember anything. It is done laparoscopically, so you will be home the same day if there are no complications. The doctor will make 2-3 small incisions, one or two in the lower pelvis and one in belly button. The scope is inserted into one incision so the doctor can see what’s going on, and a laser is inserted in the other opening to perform the drilling. When completed, your ovaries will kind of look like oval-shaped golf balls.
How long does it take to recover? My doctor told me I could have the surgery on Friday and be back to work by Monday. I was out for the entire next week. From what I’ve read, some people may take 2-4 weeks. It all depends on you. There is no time frame set in stone. Just a hint: Don’t skimp on the painkillers. I personally hate taking pain medicine, especially narcotics. I learned the hard way . . . you WILL need them, so don’t be shy about asking for them.
Complications? There are risks of complications with any surgery and this is no different. The usual list of complications includes infection, bleeding internally or externally, accidental internal injury, or complications from anesthesia. Always check with your doctor first if you have any concerns about these issues.
If you have read this far and are still considering ovarian drilling, here are a few things about it from a patient’s point of view that may help:
Most insurance companies will not pay for it. Ovarian drilling is considered by most insurance companies to be specifically a fertility treatment, and therefore, not covered. Always check with your insurance company first before committing to having the surgery. You may need to get the diagnosis code and procedure code from your doctor. The insurance company will need this to determine if it is a covered benefit. Be prepared to foot the whole bill.
How much does it cost? Of course, this will vary from city to city. I can tell you to expect bills from several sources: the doctor, the anesthesiologist, the hospital and likely and independent lab. In my case, the total of the medical bills came to about $8,000, give or take.
How well does it work? Again, this depends on you. I read the studies before I had my surgery. Because of this, I almost didn’t have it done. Some said you had to be near your ideal weight for it to be effective. I am not even close to it. One study said there was only a 37% success rate. Another said the rate was over 80%. I can only speak for myself. In my case, the doctor was only able to drill in one ovary. My anatomy prevented him from safely doing the other one. After 21 years of NEVER ovulating even after fertility drugs, I ovulated and got pregnant!!! This was only 2 months after the surgery.
Making the decision to have surgery is a tough one for most people. This was never a route that I wanted to take. However, sometimes life throws you a curve ball. You are an individual, and only you know what the right course of action for you is. As for me, I wish I had done it years ago.
