A laparoscopy is usually the last procedure that completes the infertility diagnostic work-up.  It can be safely performed in a physicians office or in an ambulatory center under local anesthesia and minimal sedation.  It is useful to identify the female internal reproductive anatomy, to document tubal patency (as seen in the photograph above by the blue dye coming out the end of the left Fallopian tube), and to rule out adhesions (scar tissue) or endometriosis.  It is not a terribly painful procedure, and recovery is about one day.