Related articles: Salpingitis
Definition
Salpingitis is an inflammation of one or both uterine tubes.
This inflammatory process is generally found in women who are fertile and sexually active, while it is rare before menarche, after menopause and during pregnancy.
Salpingitis can originate from genital tract infections, especially sexually transmitted infections (STDs).
The most common etiological agents are streptococci, staphylococci, gonococcus, chlamydia, mycoplasma and tubercle bacillus; these microorganisms rise from the vagina and the cervix to the uterine cavity and the fallopian tubes, where they settle.
Infections of the tubes (salpingitis) and uterus (endometritis) tend to occur simultaneously. In the most serious cases, the pathological process can spread to the ovaries (oophoritis) and to the peritoneum (peritonitis).
Salpingitis can be one of the causes of sterility in women, as it causes permanent alterations of the tubes, such as to prevent both fertilization and the passage of the egg from the ovary to the uterus.
Risk factors for the development of salpingitis include: inappropriate use of internal pads, abortive practices, the presence of an intrauterine contraceptive (spiral or IUD), multiple sexual partners, bacterial vaginosis or previous neglected and untreated sexually transmitted diseases.
Most common symptoms and signs *
- Cervical mucus alteration
- Changes in the menstrual cycle
- Abdominal cramps
- Dysuria
- Abdominal pain on palpation
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Pelvic pain
- Temperature
- Pus formation
- infertility
- Nausea
- Painful ovulation
- Vaginal discharge
- Peritonismo
- Vaginal bleeding
- Retrospective Uterus
- He retched
Further indications
Acute salpingitis can suddenly appear, with symptoms such as fever, lower abdominal pain, cervical discharge (usually, vaginal discharge is mucopurulent) and abnormal uterine bleeding (especially during or after menstruation).
In most cases, pain in the lower abdominal quadrants is bilateral, but can be unilateral even when both tubes are involved. When the painful sensation is very intense, nausea and vomiting may appear.
Occasionally, dyspareunia (unpleasant and annoying sexual relations) and dysuria (pain at the time of urination) also occur.
However, there are also cases in which salpingitis can go unnoticed, as the symptomatology is mild or absent (ie it causes only some slight pain in the lower abdomen, more acute in the middle of the cycle and during sexual intercourse).
Salpingitis can become chronic and cause intermittent exacerbations and remissions.
If the treatment is late or incomplete, an abscess may develop that involves the ovary and the tuba (collection of pus in the annexes), an hydrosalpinge (obstruction of the fimbriae and tubal distension with non-purulent fluid) or a piosalpinge (collection of pus confined to one or both tubes). The tube-ovarian abscess causes progressively more severe symptoms (including peritoneal irritation and the presence of a palpable adnexal mass); in addition, it can break and cause septic shock (generalized infection).
Salpingitis can cause scarring and adhesions to the tubes, which commonly cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility and increased risk of extrauterine pregnancy.
Diagnosis is made by means of a pelvic ultrasound and some tests are performed on vaginal or cervical specimens to identify the causative causative agent. If necessary, it may be useful to perform a laparoscopy.
The treatment of salpingitis makes use of antibiotic therapy directed against the responsible bacterial agent, of taking analgesics to relieve pain and, possibly, of surgical interventions to restore the functionality of the tubes.
