Animal models of intrauterine adhesions: narrative review

The aim of this narrative review is to evaluate the methods of intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) formation in animal models for future enhancement in anti-adhesion therapy research. Studies (published until October 2025) were identified by searching PubMed, The Cochrane Library and Google scholar databases. Of 464 screened records, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Such methods as curettage, excision, chemical and electrothermal injury of endometrium were examined in order to choose the most effective one in intrauterine formation process. We aimed to evaluate which experimental models most closely replicate clinically relevant scenarios in humans, such as post-inflammatory adhesions and adhesions developing after intrauterine interventions. Mechanical injury models, such as endometrial scraping or partial resection, closely replicate adhesions following obstetric and gynecological procedures. Chemical models alone or combined with mechanical trauma, enhance necrosis and fibrosis, resulting in more severe adhesions and making them suitable for studying advanced IUAs and uterine remodeling. Models with dual mechanical–infectious approaches particularly relevant for post-infectious IUAs. Using animal models in research on IUAs provides objective data by ensuring consistent conditions across study groups. This includes controlled housing and uniform animal characteristics such as identical genetic backgrounds, co-morbidities, immune factors, and predisposition to adhesion formation.