A sample of tissue (biopsy) is surgically removed from a lesion (area of damaged tissue) on your vulva. If the lesion is cut out completely, the procedure is called an excision.

Metal dilators are inserted through your vagina and used to widen the opening to the uterus. A curette (an instrument with a flat metal loop at one end) is then used to scrape the lining of the uterus.

A speculum is inserted into your vagina, as for a pap smear, and a long, thin tube with a tiny camera attached (hysteroscope) is placed into the vagina and moved through into the uterus. This allows the surgeon to see inside the uterus and may, in some cases, show the reason for conditions such as infertility or pelvic pain. A hysteroscope may also be used to remove fibroids or polyps or to take a biopsy (small sample of tissue) for examination in the laboratory.

Abdominal: an incision (cut) is made your the abdomen (stomach) and the uterus removed. Vaginal: an incision is made in your vagina and the uterus removed through the vagina. Laparoscopic: several small incisions are made in your abdomen and a thin tube with a tiny camera attached (laparoscope) inserted along with instruments that cut the connections of the uterus, allowing it to be removed through the vagina.

Several small incisions (cuts) are made in your abdomen (stomach) and a thin tube with a tiny camera attached (laparoscope) inserted, allowing the surgeon a view of your ovaries. Small instruments are inserted through the cuts and into the ovaries, where they remove the cysts.

Laparoscopic: several small incisions (cuts) are made in your abdomen (stomach) and a thin tube with a tiny camera attached (laparoscope) inserted, allowing the surgeon a view of the ovaries. Small surgical instruments are introduced through the other cuts and are used to remove the ovary and tie off the fallopian tube. Abdominal: an incision is made in the abdomen, the ovary is surgically removed and the fallopian tube tied off.

Laparoscopic: an incision (cut) is made near your navel (tummy button) and a thin tube with a tiny camera attached (laparoscope) is inserted, allowing the surgeon a view of the internal organs. If endometriosis is being treated, small instruments are introduced through several small cuts in the lower abdomen and endometrial tissue is destroyed using an electric current or laser beam. Abdominal (laparotomy): if endometriosis is very widespread, an incision is made in the abdomen, opening up the abdominal cavity so that the endometrial tissue can be removed.