Salpingitis

Salpingitis is an infection causing inflammation in the fallopian tubes (also called salpinges). It is often included in the umbrella term of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), along with endometritis, oophoritis, myometritis, parametritis, and peritonitis. The symptoms usually appear after a menstrual period. The most common are: an abnormal smell and colour of vaginal discharge, fever, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and frequent urination. Pain may be felt during ovulation, during periods, during sexual intercourse, on both sides of the abdomen, and lower back. The infection usually has its origin in the vagina and ascends to the fallopian tube from there. Because the infection can spread via the lymph vessels, infection in one fallopian tube usually leads to infection of the other. It's been theorized that retrograde menstrual flow and the cervix opening during menstruation allows the infection to reach the fallopian tubes. Other risk factors include surgical procedures that break the cervical barrier, such as: endometrial biopsy curettage hysteroscopy Another risk is factors that alter the microenvironment in the vagina and cervix, allowing infecting organisms to proliferate and eventually ascend to the fallopian tube: antibiotic treatment ovulation menstruation sexually transmitted disease (STD) Finally, sexual intercourse may facilitate the spread of disease from the vagina to the fallopian tube. Coital risk factors are: Uterine contractions Sperm, carrying organisms upward The bacteria most associated with salpingitis are: N. gonorrhoeae Chlamydia trachomatis Mycoplasma Staphylococcus Streptococcus However, salpingitis is usually polymicrobial, involving many kinds of pathogens such as Ureaplasma urealyticum, and anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. Salpingitis may be diagnosed by pelvic examination, blood tests, and/or a vaginal or cervical swab. Salpingitis can be acute, chronic, or subclinical. Approximately one in fourteen untreated Chlamydia infections will result in salpingitis.