A bacterial infection that negatively affects the fallopian tubes is known as salpingitis. It often occurs due to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and others. If you develop this condition and do not get treatment, it may lead to permanent damage to the fallopian tubes and infertility. Physicians usually prescribe antibiotics to treat this disease.
Salpingitis is a type of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and it causes the fallopian tubes to become inflamed. It can affect one or both fallopian tubes. In most cases, people develop salpingitis due to gonorrhea or chlamydia.
If you follow a treatment with antibiotics and continue to feel pain even after treatment, doctors may recommend surgery to remove one or both tubes. Generally, this bacterial infection affects about 1 in every 10 females, and they are not aware that they have this disorder until it becomes severe and causes pelvic pain or infertility.
Types
- Acute salpingitis – This type of disease usually occurs with PID. Foul-smelling vaginal discharge and pain during menstruation or sexual intercourse are the most common symptoms of this type of salpingitis.
- Chronic (long-term) salpingitis – In such cases, the symptoms are not so severe, but last longer. Sometimes, people may develop the long-term form of the disease after an acute one.
Symptoms
Usually, people who develop this bacterial infection experience the following symptoms. Check below some examples:
- Pain during sexual intercourse, ovulation, or menstruation
- Smelly and yellow vaginal discharge
- Spotting during menstrual periods
- Abdominal, pelvic, or lower back pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Frequent urination
If you experience any of the previous symptoms, you should call your healthcare professional right away.
Causes
While the primary cause of salpingitis is STIs, it may also occur due to other causes. Examples include:
- Infections – The most common causes of salpingitis are chlamydia and gonorrhea. However, Mycoplasma, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus may also cause this disorder.
- Certain procedures – In rare cases, people may develop salpingitis due to bacteria that enter the uterus and then the fallopian tubes during certain procedures. For example, hysteroscopy, IUD insertion, C-section, laparoscopy, uterine biopsy, and others.
- Abdominal infections (such as appendicitis)
- Pregnancy complications (such as miscarriage or abortion)
Furthermore, some females may develop salpingitis due to a congenital malformation of the fallopian tubes.
Risk Factors
Generally, this condition occurs due to bacteria that spread through sexual intercourse. However, physicians have identified some factors that may increase your risk of developing salpingitis. Examples include:
- Unprotected sexual activity
- Multiple sexual partners
- A medical history of STIs
- IUD use
- Some medical procedures
- Age – People between the ages of 15 and 24 are more likely to develop salpingitis
- Other pelvic inflammatory diseases
What Are The Long-term Effects of Salpingitis?
People who ignore the symptoms and do not treat this bacterial condition may experience some complications. Check below some examples:
- Ectopic pregnancy – It often occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. Usually, this is a medical emergency, meaning it requires immediate treatment.
- Infertility – People who have salpingitis for long periods may become infertile. It often happens because of scarring of the fallopian tube tissue.
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Spread of infection
- Tubo-ovarian abscess
- Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome – This is a health condition in which inflammation of the liver’s capsule occurs. It may also cause abdominal (belly) pain.
- Increased risk of recurrent infections
- Ovarian cancer
This article does not contain a complete list of salpingitis complications. Consult with your doctor about ways to reduce the risk or prevent previous complications. Furthermore, without treatment, this infection may spread to other reproductive organs (such as the ovaries and uterus) and cause painful symptoms.
How to Prevent Salpingitis?
However, it is not possible to prevent this infection, but you can take some steps to reduce the risk. For example, practicing safe sex by using condoms or dental dams, limiting sexual partners, and others. Discuss it with your healthcare professional for more details.
Diagnosis
In most cases, the diagnosis of this bacterial infection begins with a physical examination (including a pelvic examination). They may also ask some questions about the symptoms and medical history. Usually, to confirm this infection, doctors perform some tests. For example:
- Blood and urine tests – These tests are often done to check for infections.
- Vaginal culture – During this test, doctors will collect a small sample of the vaginal discharge for testing.
- Ultrasound – This is an imaging test used to examine pelvic organs and check for problems.
- Hysterosalpingogram – It is also an imaging test, but it uses X-rays and contrast dye to check for blockages in the fallopian tubes.
- Laparoscopy – During this procedure, physicians use a long and flexible tube with a lighted camera on the end to examine the pelvic organs (including fallopian tubes).
Treatment
The primary treatment for people who develop salpingitis is antibiotics. Physicians usually recommend a pill form that you should take for approximately 2 weeks. In severe cases, doctors may prescribe intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
Those who develop an abscess may need some procedures to drain it. However, if you develop blockages or adhesions, doctors often perform surgery to remove the fallopian tubes. People who plan to become pregnant can consider IVF (in-vitro fertilization).
Sexual partners should also get treatment to prevent the spread of the bacteria. Furthermore, if you follow treatment for salpingitis, it is recommended to abstain from sexual activity for at least 14 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cause of salpingitis?
In most cases, people develop salpingitis due to bacteria that are often sexually transmitted. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common STIs that cause salpingitis.
Can you get salpingitis without an STI?
In general, this condition rarely occurs in sexually inactive females. For more details, discuss it with your healthcare professional.
Which antibiotic is best for salpingitis?
Usually, to treat this bacterial infection, doctors recommend tetracyclines in combination with Penicillin G or Ampicillin. However, they may also prescribe other antibiotics. These include cephalosporins, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, or levofloxacin. If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare provider.
