The disclosure relates to a method for forming a filter medium, which is suitable for filtering fluids, for a filter element, said method comprising: applying at least one self-contained sealant onto a fluid-permeable media web in a specifiable direction, producing a solid composite at least between parts of the sealant and the media web, pleating the composite, thereby forming individual filter folds, producing a hollow body in that the two lateral edges of the media web which lie opposite each other so as to adjoin each other and which run transversely to the specified direction are connected together such that in order to obtain at least one seal region on the media web, the respective sealant is arranged on the inner face of the hollow body, a seal is produced for each filter fold, and an end-face seal of the media web is produced.