Pelvic Adhesions (Scar Tissue)

By RRM Academy Reviewed by Dr. Naomi Whittaker, MD, Board-Certified OBGYN, MIGS, NFPMC, FCI Updated May 14, 2026

Pelvic adhesions are bands of fibrous scar tissue that form between pelvic structures following inflammation, infection, endometriosis, or prior surgery, tethering organs that should move freely relative to one another. They distort anatomy, restrict tubal and ovarian mobility, impair sperm and ovum transport, and generate chronic pain through mechanical traction on innervated tissue.

Adhesions are a common finding in reproductive-age women with a history of endometriosis, pelvic infection, or prior abdominal surgery. They are frequently present in women labeled as having unexplained infertility, because adhesive disease is invisible on ultrasound and HSG and only becomes apparent at laparoscopy.

The surgical approach is adhesiolysis: precise division and removal of adhesive bands under magnification, combined with placement of anti-adhesion barriers to reduce reformation.¹ The goal is to restore normal tissue relationships and mobility, not simply to separate structures. Techniques developed within near-adhesion-free pelvic surgery protocols prioritize minimizing peritoneal trauma at every step of the procedure to reduce the adhesion burden that surgery itself can generate.¹

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.