Salpingitis

What is salpingitis?

Salpingitis is inflammation of your fallopian tubes due to an infection. It’s a type of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Salpingitis can affect one or both fallopian tubes. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like gonorrhea and chlamydia are the most common causes of salpingitis.

Left untreated, salpingitis can cause long-term damage to your fallopian tubes. A healthcare provider treats salpingitis with antibiotics and in severe cases, the tube(s) may need to be removed when it continues to cause pain.

Salpingitis affects up to 1 in 10 people assigned female at birth (AFAB). Often, people aren’t aware that they have salpingitis until their healthcare provider looks for causes of infertility or pelvic pain.

Types of salpingitis

Salpingitis can be either chronic or acute:

• Acute salpingitis: This type happens many times with PID. Common symptoms are yellow and foul-smelling vaginal discharge and pain during menstruation or with sexual intercourse.
• Chronic salpingitis: Symptoms tend to be mild, but they linger and last longer. Sometimes, chronic salpingitis occurs after acute salpingitis.

What is the difference between pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and salpingitis?

Salpingitis is a type of PID. “PID” is a general term that refers to infections of your reproductive organs.

What are the symptoms of salpingitis?

You may not have any symptoms of salpingitis. But if you do, some of the most common symptoms are:

• Smelly and/or yellow vaginal discharge.
• Pain during sex, menstruation or ovulation.
• Spotting between periods.
• Pelvic, abdominal or lower back pain.
• Fever.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Needing to pee more often.

What are the most common causes of salpingitis?

The causes of salpingitis are:

• Infection: Salpingitis develops most often from a bacterial infection you get through sexual intercourse. The bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea) cause most cases of salpingitis. Other bacteria like Mycoplasma, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus can also cause it. The bacteria enter your body through sexual contact and spread to your fallopian tubes. There are other atypical causes like tuberculosis.
• Procedures or prior surgery: While rare, it’s possible to get salpingitis after surgical procedures, as bacteria can enter your vagina, move upward into your uterus and then to your fallopian tubes. This could include procedures like a uterine biopsy, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy or during IUD insertion. It can also happen after a C-section.

It may be possible to develop salpingitis due to a congenital malformation of your fallopian tube or from an overgrowth of tissue inside your fallopian tube. Experts agree this is rare and that most cases of salpingitis occur due to STIs.

How does salpingitis spread?

Salpingitis most commonly happens because of a bacterial infection that spreads through sexual activity. Having unprotected sex increases your risk of spreading infection. While salpingitis can affect just one fallopian tube, it’s common for the infection to spread to the other fallopian tube, too.

What are the risk factors for salpingitis?

As STIs are the most common causes of salpingitis, anything that increases your risk of STIs can increase your risk of salpingitis. People who are sexually active, especially those who have many partners or don’t use protection (like condoms) are more likely to get bacterial infections.

What are the complications of salpingitis?

Salpingitis can cause scars and adhesions to develop in your fallopian tubes. This can lead to blockages, which will prevent an egg from traveling through your fallopian tube. When this happens, two complications may occur:

• Ectopic pregnancy: This is when a fertilized egg implants in your fallopian tube because it can’t travel down to your uterus due to the scarring. A fertilized egg implanting in your fallopian tube is a medical emergency.
• Infertility: The scarring in your fallopian tube can prevent sperm from reaching an egg, which makes it impossible to become pregnant naturally.

An infection in your fallopian tube can spread to other reproductive organs like your uterus and ovaries. This can make the infection worse and cause more painful symptoms.

To avoid permanent damage to your fallopian tubes, it’s best to contact a healthcare provider if you have any symptoms of salpingitis.

How is salpingitis diagnosed?

Healthcare providers diagnose salpingitis with a physical examination, including a pelvic exam. This gives a general diagnosis of PID. Definitive diagnosis of salpingitis needs imaging tests or, sometimes, laparoscopy.

A provider may also order one or more of the following tests:

• Urine and blood tests: These tests can help determine if you have an infection.
• Vaginal culture: A culture involves your healthcare provider taking a sample of your vaginal discharge and testing it for specific bacteria.
• Ultrasound: An ultrasound can help your provider get a better look at your pelvic organs to identify potential problems.
• Hysterosalpingogram: This is a special type of X-ray that uses contrast dye to identify blockages in your fallopian tubes.
• Laparoscopy: A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that gives your provider the best view of your fallopian tubes. It’s an outpatient surgery, which means you can go home the same day.

How is salpingitis treated?

Treatment for salpingitis involves taking antibiotics to kill the infection. A healthcare provider usually prescribes pills that you swallow for 14 days. Severe forms of salpingitis may require antibiotics through an intravenous (IV) line. An IV is a soft tube that delivers medication directly into your vein.

If the bacteria cause an abscess to form, your provider may recommend draining it. If blockages or adhesions develop, your provider may want to surgically remove the scar tissue to repair your fallopian tubes. This is especially helpful if you plan to become pregnant. IVF (in-vitro fertilization) can also be an option for people with salpingitis who wish to become pregnant.

Your sexual partners may also need treatment. Urge them to get tested for STIs to prevent the spread of infection. It’s important to refrain from sexual activity until you finish antibiotic treatment for salpingitis.

Can I prevent salpingitis?

No, you can’t prevent salpingitis, but you can take steps to lower your risk. This mostly involves practicing safe sex, like using condoms or dental dams and limiting your sexual partners.

What can I expect if I have salpingitis?

Early detection and treatment of salpingitis will always lead to the best outcomes. That’s why it’s important to contact a healthcare provider if you notice unusual vaginal discharge or have pelvic pain. Antibiotics will successfully treat most cases of salpingitis, but it’s important to begin antibiotics before the infection gets too severe. If you don’t receive treatment, your risk for long-term complications, like infertility, increases.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Contact a provider if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• A foul-smelling odor from your vagina.
• Pelvic or abdominal pain, especially pain that gets worse during your period or after sex.
• Irregular periods or spotting between periods.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

Questions you may want to ask your provider include:

• What kind of bacteria caused this infection?
• Should my sexual partners get tested, too?
• Will antibiotics completely cure the infection?
• How long should I wait to have sex?
• Will my fertility be affected?