In a healthy state, all organs in the abdominal cavity are mobile. They easily move relative to each other due to the smooth, slippery membrane covering them, the peritoneum, and a small amount of abdominal fluid secreted from it. If suddenly any of the organs becomes inflamed, then its tissues in the focus of inflammation become edematous, and the abdominal fluid covering them becomes more viscous and sticky. It kind of seals the damaged area, preventing the infection from spreading further. If the infection is not defeated as soon as possible, such “quarantine measures” can lead to dire consequences.
When the inflammation becomes protracted, the surfaces of healthy organs can gradually “stick” to the edematous surface of the diseased organ. At first, they are connected only by transparent films – they are called adhesions. Having connected in this way, the organs lose their mobility and begin to move only around the point of contact. Since movement near the commissure is limited, its area gradually increases, and the mobility of organs decreases even more. Over time, a dense scar forms at the junction of the organs, which “splices” the tissues together. As a result, the internal organs can no longer move as provided by nature, they are displaced, and the normal relationship between them is disrupted.
In gynecology, adhesions are most often the cause of and infertility. Because of them, the main reproductive organs are displaced – the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. As a result, the movement of spermatozoa through the fallopian tube, the meeting of spermatozoa and an egg cell, and the movement of the embryo after conception to the place of attachment to the uterine cavity are difficult. Adhesions can “glue” the fimbriae – special outgrowths of the fallopian tube that help the egg to move. Without the help of the fimbriae, the embryo instead of the uterus enters the abdominal cavity and dies. Intrauterine scars and adhesions can lead to fetal malformations, miscarriages or premature birth.
It is possible to prevent the formation of adhesions of the pelvic organs.