The symptoms of inflammation in the tubes can be abdominal pain on both sides and bleeding out of the menstrual period. The main signs and symptoms of acute inflammation of the fallopian tubes are:
- Color changes or smell of vaginal discharge;
- Pain during intimate contact;
- Pain in the pelvic region;
- Bleeding outside the menstrual period;
- Pain when urinating;
- Fever above 38º C;
- Pain in the back;
- Frequent urination;
- Nausea and vomiting.
Signs and symptoms of inflammation in the fallopian tubes usually appear after menstruation in women with active sex life as they are caused by bacterial infections or sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae . However, they can also occur before menstruation, after delivery, in cases of abortion, after IUD placement or as a complication of gynecological surgery, for example.
In some cases, the infection may take a long time to pass, being called chronic salpingitis, which produces symptoms similar to those of acute salpingitis, but which last longer or recur recurrently after menstruation. Learn more about chronic salpingitis.
Main causes of salpingitis
Salpingitis may be a consequence of abdominal infections, in which the agents that cause the infection, usually bacteria, reach the fallopian tubes, causing inflammation and giving rise to symptoms. Usually the bacteria that cause salpingitis are the same ones that cause Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, for example, which are sexually transmitted diseases.
Women who use the Intrauterine Device (IUD) as a contraceptive method, have multiple partners or have undergone some pelvic procedure are more likely to develop salpingitis.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is closely related to salpingitis, however, in addition to inflammation of the fallopian tubes, the uterus and ovary are also affected. A history of PID in women may increase predisposition to salpingitis. Learn more about pelvic inflammatory disease.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis of salpingitis is made through laboratory tests, such as checking for white blood cells and C-reactive protein (CRP), which are increased when there is an infection, as well as the microbiological analysis of vaginal secretion in order to verify the presence and identify the bacteria.
A pelvic examination, such as hysterosalpingography, is also performed by the gynecologist, which is an examination of the image in which the fallopian tubes are visualized. Learn all about hysterosalpingography.
It is important that the diagnosis be made as soon as possible, so that treatment can be started and complications such as sterility, ectopic pregnancy and generalized infection can be avoided. It is therefore important for women to undergo routine gynecological exams, even if there are no symptoms of disease. See which are the 7 main exams requested by the gynecologist.
How to treat inflammation in the tubes
Inflammation in the fallopian tubes is curable and its treatment must be done with the use of antibiotics as directed by the gynecologist and for about 7 days.
Thus, the woman with symptoms of inflammation in the fallopian tubes should immediately consult the gynecologist to begin treatment and avoid complications such as infertility, hidrosalpingitis, generalized infection, ectopic pregnancy or abscesses in the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
In more severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove organs that may be affected by infection of the fallopian tubes, such as the ovaries, uterus, or fallopian tubes. See how the treatment for inflammation in the uterine tubes is done and what are the signs of improvement.
