This is a study of 11 patients with postoperative adnexal infections, a serious complication of elective pelvic operations in young women. Nine of the infections were ovarian abscesses and 2 were tubo-ovarian abscesses. Eight cases followed vaginal hysterectomy, 1 a vaginal tubal ligation, 1 a laporotomy, and 1 followed a cesarean section. From an analysis of the cases, lack of hemostasis, excessive contamination of the operative field, unrecognized tubo-ovarian infection at the time of the initial operation, and a defect in the ovarian capsule all play a role in the later development of this complication. Treatment is surgical extirpation and may usually be limited to the involved adnexa. Morbidity and mortality seem related to rupture of the abscess before surgical intervention.