For patients in South Africa

Endometriosis surgery in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

Endometriosis is a long-term condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere, most often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvic ligaments, bowel or bladder. It can cause inflammation, scarring and pain. This page explains when surgery is considered, how it is done in İzmir, and what South African patients should plan for. It is part of our women’s health and gynaecology guide.

When surgery is considered

Medication, including pain relief and hormonal treatment, usually comes first. Surgery may be suggested for:

• Severe or persistent pelvic pain despite treatment
• Endometriosis affecting fertility
• Endometriomas (endometriosis cysts on the ovary)
• Disease involving the bowel, bladder or ureters
• Suspected deep infiltrating endometriosis

The decision depends on your symptoms, the extent of disease, your age, your fertility plans and your general health. Surgery is not right for every woman with endometriosis.

Assessment before surgery

Send your symptom history, previous treatments and operations, and any scans before you travel. A transvaginal ultrasound is usually the first test, and a pelvic MRI helps show deep disease and which organs are involved. The diagnosis is usually confirmed during surgery, when tissue is examined in the laboratory. If the bowel or bladder may be involved, specialists from those fields can be part of the team.

How the operation is done

Under general anaesthetic, the surgeon makes small cuts in the abdomen and uses a camera to find the endometriosis. Tissue is cut out (excision), which is often preferred for deep disease, or destroyed with heat or laser (ablation) for surface disease. Scar tissue is released and ovarian cysts removed where present. Open surgery is rarely needed.

If you are hoping to get pregnant, say so: the surgeon aims to preserve healthy ovarian tissue, because repeated ovarian surgery can reduce egg reserve. Surgery can help fertility in selected cases but is not a guaranteed fertility treatment. See our IVF guide if that is part of your plan.

Recovery and risks

• One to two nights in hospital after keyhole surgery
• Bloating, tummy discomfort, light bleeding, and shoulder pain from the gas used in surgery
• Light activity within a few days; avoid strenuous activity for several weeks
• Return to work within two to four weeks for most women
• Pain usually eases gradually over weeks to months; hormonal treatment may be advised afterwards

Risks include infection, bleeding, injury to the bowel, bladder or ureters, new scar tissue, pain that persists or returns, and reduced ovarian reserve in some cases. Endometriosis can come back after surgery, so long-term follow-up matters.

Planning the trip from South Africa

• Flights: direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir
• Visa: South Africans apply for an e-Visa online before travelling
• Time difference: İzmir is one hour ahead of South Africa, so video follow-ups fit easily into a working day
• Long-term care: endometriosis needs ongoing management, so arrange a gynaecologist at home to oversee any hormonal treatment and monitor for recurrence
• Take home: your operation notes and pathology report
• Fitness to fly: the surgeon decides when you are fit for the long flight home, so book a return ticket you can change
• Cover: South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, so ask your scheme in writing before you book; standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad

Guarantee and follow-up

Surgical treatments are covered by our treatment guarantee for one year from the date of treatment. It covers medical complications arising from the treatment and any revision the treating team judges clinically necessary; that treatment is carried out in İzmir at no charge, while flights and accommodation remain your own responsibility. It is not a promise of a particular result. Facts about the clinic and surgeons are on the clinic facts page, and if something goes wrong you can use our complaints process. The original treatment page is endometriosis surgery.

What we will not do

We will not promise that surgery will cure endometriosis or guarantee a pregnancy, and we will not operate before your history and imaging have been reviewed.

Frequently asked questions

Is surgery the only treatment for endometriosis?

No. Many women manage it with medication and lifestyle changes. Surgery is considered when these are not enough.

Does surgery cure endometriosis?

No. It can relieve symptoms and remove visible disease, but endometriosis is a long-term condition and can return.

How long does the operation take?

From about one hour to several hours, depending on how extensive the disease is and which organs are involved.

Will surgery help me get pregnant?

It may help in some cases, for example when cysts or scar tissue affect the ovaries or tubes, but results vary and it is not a guaranteed fertility treatment.

When can I go back to normal life?

Most women return to normal activities within a few weeks of keyhole surgery and to work within two to four weeks. The surgeon decides when you are fit to fly home.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.