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Prevention of Intrauterine Adhesions

  • Chapter
Reproductive Surgery in Assisted Conception

Abstract

Intrauterine adhesions are a result of trauma to the gravid or non-gravid uterus. Such trauma might derive from curettage of uterus, various forms of hysteroscopic surgery, Caesarean sections, uterine artery embolisation (UAE) and uterine devascularisation. Following the trauma to the uterus, endometrial fibrosis, adhesion bands and obliteration of uterine cavities may follow. Normal endometrium has two distinctive layers: functional layer and basal layer. Damage to the functional layer is often followed by regeneration of a new functional layer from a healthy basal layer. However, damage to the basal layer might disrupt the process of endometrial regeneration and promote the formation of fibrosed tissue. Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis is an effective method of treatment for intrauterine adhesions. However the procedure is often complicated by recurrence of adhesions. Therefore, effective methods are necessary to prevent reformation of intrauterine adhesions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hysteroscopic Center, Fuxing Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Dan Yu MMed

  2. Hysteroscopic Center, Fuxing Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Enlan Xia MD

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Tin-Chiu Li MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Dan Yu MMed
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  2. Enlan Xia MD
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  3. Tin-Chiu Li MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tin-Chiu Li MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Mostafa Metwally

  2. Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Tin-Chiu Li

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Yu, D., Xia, E., Li, TC. (2015). Prevention of Intrauterine Adhesions. In: Metwally, M., Li, TC. (eds) Reproductive Surgery in Assisted Conception. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4953-8_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4953-8_17

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