Pelvic adhesion; Intraperitoneal adhesion; Intrauterine adhesion

Adhesions in joints, tendons, or ligaments make it harder to move the joint and may cause pain.

Adhesions in the belly (abdomen) that caused a kink, twist, or pulling may cause a blockage of the intestines. Symptoms include:

• Bloating or swelling of your belly
• Constipation
• Nausea and vomiting
• No longer being able to pass gas
• Pain in the belly that is severe and crampy

Adhesions in the pelvis may cause chronic or long-term pelvic pain.

Most of the time, the adhesions cannot be seen using x-rays or imaging tests.

• Hysterosalpingography may help diagnose adhesions inside the uterus or Fallopian tubes.
• X-rays of the abdomen, barium contrast studies, and CT scans may help diagnose a blockage of the intestines caused by adhesions.

• Hysteroscopy looks inside the uterus
• Laparoscopy looks inside the abdomen and pelvis

Images

Pelvic adhesions

Ovarian cyst

Previous Section

Adhesion Overview

Next Section

Adhesion Treatment

Review Date: 03/30/2010
Reviewed By: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington. Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Unviersity of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)