What is salpingitis and how to treat it. Salpingitis: symptoms and main clinical manifestations

Usually, the ovaries are affected along with the fallopian tubes (salpingoophoritis). Salpingitis can be unilateral or bilateral.

Due to the inflammatory reaction, the production of exudate increases. Infected exudate penetrates the abdominal cavity, causing inflammatory processes in the ovaries, the formation of adhesions, ulcers and diffuse peritonitis. The adhesive process can disrupt the outflow of exudate and lead to the formation of hydrosalpinx, pyosalpinx and tubal infertility.

Causes of salpingitis

Causes of salpingitis - specific and nonspecific infections. Nonspecific infections usually caused by opportunistic microflora. Their occurrence is facilitated by decreased immunity and traumatic injuries (childbirth, curettage, medical procedures). These can be staphylococcal and streptococcal lesions, inflammation caused by E. coli, fungi.

Specific salpingitis caused by trichomonas, chlamydia and Koch's bacillus. The infection enters the body sexually or hematogenously. Usually both fallopian tubes are affected.

For opportunistic microflora to become pathogenic, provoking factors are necessary, which can be: hypothermia, constant psycho-emotional stress, acute stress, physical and mental fatigue, harmful working conditions, bad habits that reduce immunity.

Inflammation most often develops along an ascending path. Pathogens enter the vagina through the vagina. cervical canal, through the canal - into the uterus and further - into the fallopian tubes. This happens especially often during sexual intercourse, including during menstruation. The descending route of infection is when microorganisms enter the genitals from the sigmoid colon or appendix. The hematogenous route involves infection through blood or lymph from an infected focus in the body.

During surgical interventions on the reproductive organs, the epithelial layer is damaged. Infection develops in surgical wounds if the instruments were not properly sterilized or if the abortion was criminal.

Signs and symptoms of salpingitis

Salpingitis can have an acute and chronic course.

Symptoms of salpingitis usually appear after menstruation, patients complain of:

A sharp increase in temperature.
Weakness and poor health.
Chills.
Pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the rectal area.
Dyspeptic symptoms (nausea, vomiting, increased gas formation and diarrhea).
Serous-purulent discharge.
General weakness.
Myalgia.
Frequent urination.
Pain during sexual intercourse.

When going to chronic stage, the symptoms of salpingitis disappear, but the risk of developing serious complications remains:

Peritonitis.
Abscesses in the pelvis.
Obstruction of the fallopian tubes.
Hydrosalpinx and pyosalpinx.
Menstrual irregularities.
Ectopic pregnancy.
Chronic pelvic pain.
Adhesive processes.
Infertility.

Diagnosis of salpingitis

At the initial consultation, the gynecologist collects anamnesis, finds out complaints, how long ago the first signs of the disease appeared.

Diagnosis of salpingitis includes:

Gynecological examination is bimanual and with the help of a speculum, it is very painful in the acute form.
Transvaginal ultrasound showing signs of inflammation of the fallopian tube, swelling and thickening of the walls.
Blood test with leukemia formula.
General analysis urine.
Microbiological examination discharge.
Bacteriological culture and determination of sensitivity to antibiotics.
PCR and ELISA to identify the type of pathogen.

If complications of salpingitis are suspected, echohysterosalpingoscopy is indicated(UZGSS, EchoGSS). An examination is carried out on a gynecological chair by a gynecologist and an ultrasound diagnostician. A contrast agent is injected into the uterus through a catheter and spreads into the fallopian tubes. On the screen of an ultrasound scanner, the doctor can visualize scar changes and adhesions, tube deformation, developmental anomalies, tube parameters (thickness, contours, shape), and tube patency is determined. This study also identifies pathologies of the uterus and assesses the condition of the reproductive system.

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Treatment of salpingitis

Treatment of salpingitis, depending on the degree of damage, stage of the process and the presence of consequences, is carried out using both conservative and surgical methods. Antibiotic therapy for salpingitis is difficult to carry out, since often the causative agents of infectious inflammation are highly resistant to most antibiotics. Need to use complex treatment, take into account sensitivity to drugs and combine them. If the cause of salpingitis is an anaerobic infection, then metronidazole is prescribed. To avoid dysbiosis, probiotics are prescribed.

In addition, to consolidate the result and avoid complications of salpingitis, the following are needed: immunotherapy, physiotherapy and absorbable drugs. Among the effective physiotherapeutic procedures are UHF, ultrasound, medicinal electrophoresis, therapeutic baths, paraffin therapy, magnetic therapy, and acupuncture. In the remission stage, sanatorium-resort treatment and mud therapy are indicated. Physiotherapy promotes tissue healing, scar resorption, and pain relief.

The course of conservative therapy takes about two weeks. The treatment process is carried out mainly on an outpatient basis. Hospitalization is required when complications develop or in the acute phase of the disease with a severe clinical picture. In addition to pharmacological agents, a diet is prescribed excluding hot and spicy foods. In the acute stage, bed rest must be observed.

Surgical treatment is required for abscesses, ulcers, pyosalpinx and peritonitis. In such situations, surgery is performed, the fallopian tube is removed and the abdominal cavity is drained. Also, indications for surgery for salpingitis are: obstruction fallopian tubes, ineffectiveness of therapy, identified tumor-like formations on the appendages. In case of chronic inflammatory process, indications for surgery are determined only by a doctor.

Contraindications to radical treatment of salpingitis are acute infections, pathologies of the circulatory system associated with coagulation disorders, severe obesity of the patient. Relative restrictions and necessity surgical intervention determined in each case individually.

Today, the most common method of surgical treatment of inflammation of the appendages is laparoscopy. Minimally invasive technology has many advantages over abdominal surgery. These are the low-invasiveness of the method, minimization of postoperative complications, simultaneous diagnosis and the possibility of detecting other gynecological pathologies that were not detected using visual diagnostics. After laparoscopy, rapid tissue regeneration occurs; a short rehabilitation period allows the woman to return to her normal life a few days after the intervention.

The essence of the manipulation is that 2–4 small holes are made in the abdominal wall, through which a laparoscope microcamera and the necessary surgical instruments are inserted into the operating area. A fragment of the affected pipe is removed, cleaned of purulent contents, washed with an antiseptic, adhesions are cut, and a drainage system is installed. Thus, the patency of the tube and its reproductive function are restored.

If there is no way to remove the purulent focus and restore patency, then the appendage is removed. If the second pipe is healthy, then natural pregnancy possible. If the second tube is also affected, then modern reproductive technologies will help a woman become a mother.

In preoperative preparation, the patient undergoes standard laboratory tests and undergoes an ultrasound examination. After laparoscopy, you may experience pain in the lower abdomen and in the area of the incisions, bloating associated with the injection of carbon dioxide into the abdominal cavity (this is a natural reaction that will go away on its own). General symptoms characteristic of any postoperative period cannot be excluded: weakness, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite. These symptoms will only bother you for a short time. If they do not subside after 2-3 days, but become more intense, then the attending physician must know about this. This is especially true for pain and vaginal discharge.

If a woman, after laparotomy for inflammation of the fallopian tube, wants to give birth to a child, then long-term hormone therapy is prescribed. After this, they plan to become pregnant. You need to consult a fertility specialist so that he can assess the chances of natural conception. On this issue, you can contact an AltraVita specialist.

The more time has passed after laparoscopy, the higher the likelihood of developing an adhesive process. If the adhesions were inside the tube, then 10% of women have a chance of natural conception; if around the tube, then 60% of women can become pregnant naturally. In other cases, IVF is used.

Since salpingitis often occurs in young women, the doctor’s main task is to preserve reproductive function. Only timely comprehensive treatment helps preserve the function of the fallopian tube. Treatment should not be stopped after the pain disappears. A full course of medication, physiotherapy and rehabilitation procedures with mandatory follow-up examination can prevent the formation of adhesions and obstruction of the fallopian tubes.

The greatest danger is the diagnosis of bilateral salpingitis, salpingoophoritis, since obstruction of both tubes excludes the possibility of becoming pregnant naturally.

Specialists at the AltraVita clinic use international schemes and protocols when treating salpingitis. Our laboratory uses the latest tests to determine the type of pathogen. The treatment process takes place in several stages, including rehabilitation, which promotes complete recovery after the illness. If treatment is started late and the consequences cannot be avoided, we can use assisted reproductive technologies and do IVF.

Prevention of salpingitis

Like most gynecological pathologies, prevention of salpingitis comes down to following simple rules:

Personal hygiene using special means that do not disturb the vaginal microenvironment.
Use individual towels and bed linen.
Avoid hypothermia.
If possible, avoid stress, get enough sleep, eat well and rest.
Early diagnosis salpingitis, timely treatment of inflammation of the genital organs.
Selectivity in sexual partners.
Use barrier protection during sex.
Protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy to avoid curettage, as a risk factor for inflammation.
Take care of your immune system, lead an active lifestyle, give up bad habits and hard physical work, take vitamin complexes.

All women who have had inflammation of the fallopian tubes and other gynecological diseases must be observed by a gynecologist and undergo examination at least twice a year in order to prevent salpingitis, exacerbations and complications. Moreover, in some cases, the onset of pathology may be asymptomatic and the disease can only be detected during a routine examination. Healthy women need to visit a gynecologist once a year.

Salpingitis- This infection, which without proper timely treatment can result in such a formidable complication as infertility, especially since the pathology in most cases is registered in young women of childbearing age.

To maintain reproductive health, contact the AltraVita clinic. Our highly qualified doctors have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating inflammation of the appendages. We have our own modernly equipped laboratory and innovative diagnostic equipment, which will allow us to carry out the necessary research in one visit. When a diagnosis of salpingitis is made, the AltraVita gynecologist will select an individual treatment and rehabilitation program in accordance with international medical protocols. Make an appointment with a specialist on the website or by calling back. All procedures with us can be completed on the condition of anonymity.

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Diseases of the genital area in women are diagnosed quite often. Moreover, each of them requires mandatory treatment, because it can be accompanied by serious consequences, including the inability to get pregnant. Chronic salpingitis often leads to a similar problem, so you should figure out how to suspect it and eliminate it.

What is chronic salpingitis

More than 30% of the planet's female population under the age of 35 faces a problem such as chronic salpingitis. This purely female gynecological disease occurs due to an infection entering a woman’s body, resulting in an inflammatory process in the fallopian tubes, causing their obstruction. It all starts with the fact that pathological changes completely cover the entire mucous membrane of one or both fallopian tubes, then they thicken and deform, which subsequently causes obstruction.

Chronic salpingitis means indolent inflammation of the fallopian tubes

Chronic salpingitis is of two types:

Unilateral. Infection occurs in one pipe, most often it is associated with nearby organs and their inflammation, for example, inflammatory processes in the appendix. Depending on which tube is inflamed, unilateral salpingitis is divided into left- and right-sided.
Double-sided. The inflammatory process in this case involves both fallopian tubes.

How dangerous the disease is for women's health - video

Causes

The following factors can provoke an inflammatory process in the fallopian tubes:

early onset of sexual activity;
constant change of partners and promiscuous sex life;
regular use of hormonal contraceptives;
unprofessional intervention of doctors, for example, during abortion, caesarean section, installation of an intrauterine device.

Based on the cause of its occurrence, the disease is divided into specific and nonspecific salpingitis. The nonspecific form in its manifestation most often involves one pipe, that is, it is one-sided. It is caused by the following bacteria that enter the body during unprotected sex and when the walls of the uterus are damaged:

Staphylococcus aureus;
staphylococcus epidermidis;
coli;
peptostreptococcus;
enterococcus;
Proteus.

Most often, specific salpingitis involves both fallopian tubes and is bilateral. It is called:

trichomonas;
gonococci;
chlamydia.

Herpes viruses and Candida fungi can also cause infection.

Symptoms of the disease

When chronic salpingitis is in remission, the symptoms resemble mild illness or poisoning. Appears:

weakness;
decreased performance;
discomfort from the affected pipe.

Signs of exacerbation of chronic salpingitis

At the beginning of an exacerbation of chronic salpingitis, patients experience the following pathological signs:

If several of these symptoms appear, you must contact a gynecologist and undergo the appropriate tests.

The acute form of the disease occurs abruptly, and the symptoms are more pronounced and are accompanied by intense pain. In addition, the following pathological signs are present:

sudden changes in body temperature above 37.5 °C;
constant chills and weakness;
pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis, legs, or lower back;
all symptoms of disorder or poisoning: loose stools, vomiting, nausea;
rapid heartbeat and nervousness;
inflammation of the urinary tract, accompanied by a frequent urge to go to the toilet, cutting pain spasms when urinating.

If purulent vaginal discharge with a corresponding odor or blood is observed, this is most likely a symptom of infection of the fallopian tubes with purulent salpingitis - urgent hospitalization is required.

Diagnostic methods

Most often, several diagnostic methods are used simultaneously in order to recreate the full picture of the appearance of salpingitis, find out what caused it and at what stage it is currently at. To make a diagnosis:

Treatment

In case of salpingitis, a woman should immediately begin treatment measures, since the inflammatory process in the fallopian tubes never goes away on its own, much less without a trace. Pathology often leads to infertility if there is no medical intervention.

Medication

Used to treat chronicsalpingitis at the acute stage and is often carried out in a hospital. Patients are prescribed bed rest. A light diet for the period of therapy would also be appropriate; doctors most often recommend a protein-type diet and easily digestible foods:

boiled chicken meat;
beef;
fish;
dairy products;
vegetables;
fruits.

A prerequisite is to drink a large volume of water or other liquid, the optimal amount is up to 2.5 liters per day.

From medications are appointed:

antibiotics: Azithromycin, Ceftriaxone, Doxycyline, etc.;
anti-inflammatory medicines in the form of candles: Terzhinan, Hexicon;
general anti-inflammatory drugs (in tablets): Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Butadione;
immunomodulators: aloe extract, Humisol, Groprinosin, Imunofan;
vitamin complexes, including vitamins C, E, cocarboxylase.

As a rule, broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs are used that can have a detrimental effect on all types of pathogenic microflora.

Means for the treatment of salpingitis in the photo

Surgical

It is used to treat advanced forms of salpingitis, as well as the formation of pus and adhesions in the fallopian tubes. First of all, the surgeon removes all purulent tumors and removes adhesions, thereby restoring patency. In completely advanced forms and with tubo-ovarian tumors, it is possible to completely remove the tubes. A guarantee of successful treatment after surgery is the absence of sexual intercourse for two months. Surgical treatment can be performed by laparotomy or laparoscopy.

Laparoscopy is often used for surgical treatment of salpingitis

It is one of the most effective methods of surgical intervention and is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a small incision, no more than 10 cm, and a mini-video camera is inserted through it to assess the internal condition of the genital organs and eliminate pathological changes. During the manipulation, the specialist excises the affected areas of the fallopian tubes, separates the adhesions, restoring patency. If pus is present, sanitation is carried out abdominal cavity, drainage is installed.

The advantages of this diagnostic and surgical method are as follows:

Enlargement of the image of the genital organs displayed on the monitor.
Patient safety, short rehabilitation period.
The most accurate assessment of the patency of the fallopian tubes, establishing the cause of the disease and identifying any pathologies associated with it.
Fast and efficient separation of joints between pipes;
The ability to permanently eliminate the cause of the patient’s infertility.

Laparotomy

If it is not possible to completely eliminate pathological changes using laparoscopy, a decision is made to perform laparotomy. This manipulation involves dissection of the abdominal cavity in the area of projection of the affected tube. Next, the doctor removes pathological areas, sanitation, and dissects adhesions. At the end of the intervention, sutures are applied.

Physiotherapy

The method for treating chronic salpingitis is good because it leads to complete resorption of adhesions and prevents their reappearance. Physiotherapy activates the natural immunity and protective function of the body.

Traditional methods

Traditional medicine in combination with traditional treatment has a fairly good effect. For this, a variety of healing infusions, warming baths with herbal decoctions, etc. are used.

Baths with valerian help well in the fight against chronic salpingitis. It is necessary to draw such an amount of water that it reaches only the chest line, then add 50 ml of medicinal plant extract. It is recommended to take a bath for half an hour.
A warm bath with the addition of a decoction of twigs and dried juniper fruits perfectly relieves inflammation. 50 g of berries and plant stems should be poured into 1 liter of boiling water and left for 2-3 hours. Then take a warm bath and add the resulting infusion. The duration of the procedure is no more than 30 minutes.
Douching to relieve inflammation is most often done with decoctions of chamomile, sage, and oak bark. You need 2 tbsp. l. Pour 500 ml of boiling water over any of the listed plants, place in a water bath and leave for about half an hour. After this, you should cool the product to 37–38 degrees and use it for douching.
Tampons with plantain are also effective. It is necessary to pour 1 tablespoon of crushed leaves of the plant with boiling water in a volume of 100 ml and simmer over low heat for no more than 2-3 minutes. After this, the liquid is left to cool, then a tampon is moistened in it and inserted into the vagina for 2-3 hours.
Viburnum decoction. This product is indicated for internal use. You need to pour 3 tablespoons of dried inflorescences into 1 liter of boiling water, place in a water bath and keep for about half an hour. After this, add a few tablespoons of natural honey to the broth. It is recommended to take the product three times a day, half a glass.

Folk remedies in the photo

Consequences and complications

An advanced or untreated form of this disease leads to serious health problems. These include:

infection of organs located in the peritoneum and pelvic area;
the formation of adhesions, which leads to surgery, and in the worst case, removal of the fallopian tubes;
an increase in the risk of conceiving a child outside the uterus to almost 50%;
infertility.

Is it possible to get pregnant with chronic salpingitis?

If a woman’s salpingitis affects only one uterine appendage, then the probability of becoming pregnant on her own, without additional procedures and interventions, is very high. If a woman suffers from inflammation in two appendages, then the chance of getting pregnant on her own is 1:10. 25% of women with a chronic form of the disease receive a disappointing verdict - infertility. In this case, surgical methods (laparoscopy) eliminate all intrauterine adhesions, and proper therapy eliminates inflammation. After several years of persistent treatment, you can even get pregnant on your own.

If the patency of the tubes cannot be restored, or they have been removed, IVF (in vitro fertilization) becomes a real salvation on the path to motherhood. Thanks to this method, even in chronic form, salpingitis will not interfere with pregnancy. In this case, childbirth is carried out only by caesarean section.

IVF can be used in the presence of chronic salpingitis

Disease prevention

Measures to prevent this disease are elementary, these include:

compliance with hygiene standards;
use of barrier methods of contraception during casual sexual intercourse;
visiting a gynecological office at least once a year;
timely seeking medical help if any violations occur.

We should not forget that every woman is a continuer of the human race, and casual sexual contacts, frequent changes of sexual partners and the lack of proper protection during intercourse can lead to depriving a woman of such happiness as being a mother. If it so happens that you do become infected with an infection that causes salpingitis, you should go to the hospital at the first suspicious symptoms and signs of this disease, because it is better to detect the disease in a timely manner and get rid of it, rather than to start it before dire consequences appear.

If a diagnosis is made of chronic salpingitis, what kind of disease is it and how to treat it? It is immediately worth noting that this is a condition that requires urgent action. Otherwise, the pathology is complicated by infertility.

Why does the disease occur?

Chronic salpingitis is an inflammatory process in the fallopian tubes (one or both). The main reason for the development is the entry and vital activity of pathogenic microorganisms into the fallopian tube, more often from the uterine cavity.

Due to the spread of pathogenic flora and its activity, scar changes are formed on the mucous membranes of the tubes with expansion of the cavity or the occurrence of their obstruction (complete or partial), which over time can become a source of infertility.

In acute cases, cavities are formed in the cavity of the fallopian tubes, the contents of which are purulent or serous exudate. Over time, such neoplasms transform into abscesses and can cause the spread of infectious pathogens into the abdominal region. In the latter case, the risk of developing inflammatory pathologies in the pelvic organs and the formation of an interintestinal abscess increases.

In most cases, the inability to get pregnant occurs precisely with chronic salpingitis. The disease occurs in an acute form, less often accompanied by such a complication.

Chronicity of the process is observed in the following cases:

in case of untimely or inadequate treatment of an acute disease;
concomitant development of a sexually transmitted disease (trichomoniasis, etc.);
presence of a contraceptive device;
history of abortion;
miscarriage;
Carrying out diagnostic procedures in the uterine area.

Forms of the disease

Depending on the source that caused the disease, pathology is divided into 2 forms: nonspecific and specific. In the first case, development is influenced by Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia coli, and Candida fungus.

A nonspecific type of pathology often develops against the background of:

gynecological diseases;
birth trauma;
abortion with complications;
after intrauterine manipulation.

A disease of a specific form occurs when the body is exposed to gonococcus, trichomonas, and chlamydia, which are sexually transmitted infections. Chronic bilateral salpingitis in most cases has a specific form, and unilateral salpingitis has a nonspecific form.

What symptoms occur

The disease in its chronic form occurs with stages of remission and periods of exacerbation. In most cases, the acute course has a blurred clinical picture.

General symptoms arise that may be inherent in other gynecological pathologies and other etiologies:

increased general temperature;
pain syndrome in the epigastric region;
general malaise.

For this reason, the disease is often diagnosed at an advanced stage of development or when the process is chronic.

Pathology in chronic form occurs without an increase in general temperature, like acute salpingitis.

It has symptoms such as:

persistent, persistent pain in the lower abdomen, which intensifies with hypothermia and fatigue;
menstrual irregularities;
thickening of the fallopian tube, which can be detected during a gynecological examination.

With an increase in the activity of pathogens in the acute stage, copious discharge from the vagina, with or without a specific odor. A blood test shows significant deviations, while in remission there are no changes in blood cells. The intensity of pain increases during sexual intercourse and menstruation.

With the development of pathology against the background of gonococcal infection, the urethra and uterine cervix are involved in the lesion. With chlamydia infection, urethritis and endometritis are associated. At the same time, the general condition worsens, nausea, flatulence occurs, and irritability increases.

Symptoms for complications

If complications develop, secondary ones are added clinical manifestations. In this case, qualified medical assistance is required.

Secondary symptoms include the following:

febrile syndrome;
a sharp increase in temperature;
hypotension;
tachycardia;
dizziness;
confusion.

If treatment for developing complications is not started in a timely manner, the risk of peritonitis increases, a pathology characterized by the rupture of a purulent sac located in the fallopian tube into the abdominal region.

Diagnostics

It is not difficult to diagnose chronic salpingitis. First of all, if alarming symptoms appear, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist.

The doctor will order the following tests:

laboratory: blood test to detect antigen for hepatitis type B, C, HIV, examination of a smear taken from the vagina, cervix, urethra, for infections, urine analysis;
instrumental: hysterosalpingography is mandatory if a chronic form of salpingitis is suspected.

Ultrasound diagnostics to identify chronic disease, uninformative. If there is a suspicion of the development of a tuberculosis type of pathology, appropriate studies are carried out at a tuberculosis dispensary.

When a disease is detected in a chronic form, a smear is taken after a “provocation”. This could be salty or spicy product before diagnosis. If pathological exudate has accumulated in the rectouterine cavity, puncture of the abdominal region is prescribed, performed through the posterior vaginal fornix.

Differential analysis is carried out with appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian apoplexy.

Treatment

Only a doctor will determine how to treat a chronic disease. Self-therapy in this case is ineffective, and can also cause irreversible complications.

Treatment is carried out only in stationary conditions:

Drug therapy is prescribed, which involves taking anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs, as well as drugs with an immunomodulatory effect. The latter help increase the body's defenses, directing an active fight against pathogens.
The duration of taking antibacterial drugs is up to 2 weeks, depending on the characteristics of the development of the primary disease. To reduce the risk of complications such as dysbiosis and candidiasis, antifungal agents are prescribed.
If adhesions are present, enzymes are required (for example, Lidaza and other drugs). Physiotherapy procedures help adhesions to dissolve: magnetic therapy, ultrasound treatment, etc.
If conservative therapy is ineffective, surgery is prescribed. As a rule, this is necessary for existing neoplasms with pus in the cavity, which are localized in the fallopian tubes.
Of all surgical methods, preference is given to laparoscopy and salpingotomy. During the operation, the patency of the tube is restored, which increases the chances of fertilization.

Salpingitis and procreation

Are the concepts of “salpingitis” and “pregnancy” compatible? Of particular interest is the question of whether it is possible to become pregnant after surgery. In this case, with surgical treatment of salpingitis, the chance of fertilization increases significantly.

After about a year, the possibility of relapse and re-formation of adhesions increases, which again increases the risk of infertility. When adhesions and scars form in the fallopian tube itself, the chances of getting pregnant are reduced to 5-10%.

Conclusion

To avoid the negative consequences of the disease, it is important to treat the acute disease in a timely manner, which will avoid chronicity of the process. It is recommended to visit a gynecologist at least 2 times a year.

Acute or chronic salpingitis (oophoritis) is a gynecological disease caused by bacteria that provokes inflammation in the fallopian tube. The mucous and muscle tissues of both tubes are usually affected.

Inflammation affects the muscles of the visceral peritoneum. Approximately 30% of patients who turn to a women's doctor for examination are diagnosed with oophoritis.

Reasons for the development of salpingitis

There are two main reasons why acute salpingitis develops:

Mechanical impact.
Introduction of bacteria.

Signs of inflammation of the ovary and fallopian tube are usually observed in women and girls of puberty who are sexually active.

The mechanical causes that cause this disease are injuries to the mucous and muscle tissue associated with the following phenomena and procedures:

abortion;
difficult labor;
injections of medications into the uterine cavity or punctures for rupture of an ovarian cyst and internal bleeding;
endometritis;
examination of the uterus using various instruments.

Oophoritis also develops if staphylococcus, gonococcus, and streptococcus bacteria enter the internal genital organs.

Adnexitis (salpingitis) can be provoked by common E. coli, Frenkel diplococci, influenza bacillus, syphilis or actinomycosis. Treatment will then be aimed at eliminating the root cause.

The nature of the inflammation is:

spicy,
chronic;
hidden.

Important information: it was noted that 12% of patients diagnosed with inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes had a history of tubercle bacilli in the body, although a direct connection between salpingitis and tuberculosis has not been confirmed.

The reasons often depend on the location of the patient.

For example, if in a locality there is an unfavorable situation regarding the frequency of sexually transmitted diseases, in half of the patients diagnosed with acute or chronic salpingitis, the causative agent of the disease will be gonorrheal or syphilis infection.

Correct determination of the method of penetration of bacteria into the cavity of the fallopian tube will help to establish the cause during diagnosis.

Most often, they pass ascendingly through the genital tract, enter the uterus, and then rise through the endometrial mucosa into the fallopian tubes.

But if the causative agent is a tuberculosis bacillus, the bacteria can enter the tubes from the lymph nodes of the abdominal cavity, intestines or through the blood in a hematogenous form of penetration

Signs of salpingitis (inflammation of the ovary and fallopian tube)

The symptoms of salpingitis are very similar to the symptoms of other gynecological diseases (adnexitis, oophoritis, even endometritis), so diagnosis is often difficult.

The most characteristic symptom is a strong increase in body temperature, sometimes up to 40 degrees, chills, and a feverish state.

In addition, the following additional symptoms are observed:

sharp pain in the lower abdomen;
if the causative agent is a tuberculosis bacillus, the pain is localized in the inguinal and sacral regions;
painful urination and defecation;
pain during sexual intercourse.

If acute salpingitis is not treated and the disease is allowed to transform into a chronic form, pain may disappear and only bother you from time to time, for example, after physical work.

In this case, the patient should pay attention to symptoms such as purulent vaginal discharge (purulent salpingitis), irregular menstruation, and difficulty conceiving a child.

The disease and its clinical picture

Chronic salpingitis can be quite difficult to diagnose: symptoms are usually absent or smoothed out, and the causative bacteria have already died.

Instead, it may increase the number of streptococci or staphylococci, which in this case are the causes of secondary infection.

Treatment requires complex treatment; it is important to choose the right combination of drugs with different effects.

How acute salpingitis will develop and proceed, and what treatment will be required, largely depends on the type of pathogen and the woman’s immunity.

At the initial stage, changes in the body are almost invisible.

In the future, tumors of various types may develop. Often inflammation affects neighboring organs.

During exacerbation, symptoms such as swelling of the external and internal genital organs, copious discharge, and acute pain are noted.

Bilateral purulent salpingitis is diagnosed with gonorrheal infection.

Infiltrates with purulent filling are formed; with syphilis or actinomycosis, numerous granulomas appear - all these are typical symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, which are accompanied by severe inflammation.

Complications and consequences of salpingitis

E If the inflammation is not treated, the vaginal folds hypertrophy, they coalesce and form cystic cavities with purulent secretory contents.

The fimbrial ends of the fallopian tube become overgrown, the remains of decomposed epithelium accumulate in the tubes, and saccular tumors form.

When the tubes contract, their contents can spill into the uterine cavity and cause endometritis.

If treatment has not yet been carried out at this stage, the inflammatory process affects neighboring organs.

Hypertrophied tubes can adhere to the ovaries and uterus, sometimes to adjacent areas of the intestine.

Most often, the affected fallopian tube fusions with the ovary and the formation of one large tumor. In medicine, this complication is called salpino-oophoritis, oophoritis or.

If the tube becomes fused with the uterus, a diagnosis of perimerosalpingitis is made. If the tube has fused with the intestines and other organs, we are talking about perisalpingitis.

Untimely or poor-quality treatment of the disease leads to persistent obstruction in the fallopian tube or both at once (bilateral salpingitis, oophoritis), and this in turn becomes the cause of difficult-to-treat infertility. In other words, salpingitis will not allow pregnancy.

It is no less dangerous if oophoritis provokes partial closure of the fallopian tubes. In this case, conception is possible, but the risk of developing an ectopic pregnancy with salpingitis is very high.

In rare cases, hemorrhages into the uterine cavity are observed.

Oophoritis - diagnosis and treatment

Treatment will depend on the type of pathogen. For gonorrheal infection, a gonococcal vaccine is administered, then a course of protein therapy is prescribed.

If the causative agent is a tuberculosis bacillus, oophoritis or acute salpingitis must be treated using radiotherapy. Various procedures are prescribed to promote the resorption of cysts and adhesions:

Hot compresses with medications.
Hot water bottles.
Warm enemas and douching with solutions of medications or decoctions of medicinal herbs.
Diathermy.
Solar electric baths.
Warming up with a quartz lamp.

In case of exacerbation of salpingitis, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis. Complete rest and bed rest are required.

Severe pain is eliminated with the help of painkillers, ice is applied to the lower abdomen, ointments and gels are used externally, and suppositories are used intravaginally.

If treatment with conservative methods is ineffective, surgery salpingitis. But first the doctor must determine the location of the inflammation:

bilateral salpingitis;
right-sided oophoritis;
left-sided salpingitis.

Surgical treatment is carried out in two ways: conservative and radical.

If the situation allows, the woman’s internal genital organs are preserved after conservative surgery. If the situation is critical, sections of the fallopian tube, ovaries, and sometimes the body of the uterus are removed - this is a radical operation.

A woman should remember that until she cures salpingitis, pregnancy may not occur.

And if the inflammation reaches the uterine cavity, the patient may develop endometritis - a very dangerous disease.

Endometritis and its symptoms

Endometritis is called pathological changes in the mucous epithelium of the uterus, which can provoke:

untreated inflammation of the ovary and fallopian tubes (bilateral salpingitis, purulent salpingitis, right-sided or left-sided salpingitis);
exposure to a septic pathogen;
improper douching;
intrauterine examinations;
childbirth;
abortions and other manipulations with curettage.

However, there are other reasons that provoke endometritis:

poor immunity;
frequent stress and overwork;
vitamin deficiency;
non-compliance with genital hygiene;
having sex during menstruation;
diseases of other internal organs.

Endometritis can develop acutely, but a latent course of the disease is also possible, which is even more dangerous, since the diagnosis is often made very late.

Typically, latent endometritis is detected when a woman is examined for other diseases.

Acute endometritis has clear symptoms, but sometimes it is confused with the malaise that occurs in a woman before her period begins.

How does a patient diagnosed with endometritis feel?

The woman feels excruciating pain in the lower abdomen.
There is copious discharge from the vagina, which has a very unpleasant odor.
Urination becomes painful.
Body temperature rises to 38 and above.

The first thing a woman should pay attention to is an increase in body temperature in the absence of any other symptoms.

If this condition lasts more than two days, you should immediately be examined by a gynecologist.

Most often, at the initial stage, endometritis is manifested by spotting brown or red discharge, which can turn purulent after a few days.

If endometritis is not treated, it can cause serious complications, including uterine cancer.

Specific infectious inflammation of the fallopian tubes, otherwise called salpingitis, is a fairly common disease and, alas, very unpleasant. Even with timely treatment, when a woman immediately consults a doctor when the first symptoms appear, she will have to go through far from painless procedures, which, however, most often ends in a complete cure. But often ladies prefer to ignore the signals sent by the body (everyone tolerates it - and I will tolerate it). But the “policy of non-intervention” will not lead to anything good, and instead of conservative drug treatment, the patient may end up on the operating table.

We would like to immediately reassure especially suspicious ladies: the likelihood that the situation will develop according to the worst-case scenario is quite small, so you should not take the diagnosis of “salpingitis” so seriously. This, let us clarify once again, is exactly the diagnosis! But to think about what you need to pay close attention to when certain symptoms appear, believe me, it makes sense. This will allow you to seek qualified help in time and minimize potential risk. Even in this case, a woman will have to take serious care of her health, but, really, this is much better than memorizing the surgeon’s phone number. This is what we will talk about today.

Scheme of the course of salpingitis

For those who consider themselves “savvy” in medical matters, it will be useful to know that, contrary to popular belief, inflammation of the fallopian tubes in the initial stages can sometimes be practically asymptomatic. And if so, then the absence of a clearly expressed pain syndrome in the presence of several vague manifestations of the disease does not mean that you do not have salpingitis. Only a qualified doctor can confirm or deny the presence of inflammation!

Nonspecific symptoms of salpingitis

A sudden and sharp increase in temperature (often up to 40 degrees and above).
Severe chills that occur even in the warm season, which, however, are not accompanied by signs of a cold (no cough or runny nose).
Problems with urination (frequent urge, pain). They can be easily confused with banal cystitis and you can try to “cure” yourself, significantly complicating the subsequent treatment of salpingitis itself.
Unpleasant sensations during sex.
Failure of the menstrual cycle (discharge is either too heavy or too scanty).
Effects from the outside gastrointestinal tract(almost complete lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, feeling of heaviness, flatulence, frustration, sometimes heartburn).
Grayish-white vaginal discharge in the absence of any known genitourinary problems.
“Penduldulum” pain in the lower abdomen, which appears and then disappears.
Fatigue, decreased performance, depressed mood.

Symptoms of acute salpingitis

Most often, they are clearly expressed and do not present any difficulties for diagnosis. True, upon a superficial examination they can be confused with manifestations of acute poisoning or the same appendicitis, so when talking with a doctor, try to remember everything that bothers you in one way or another.

An unprovoked increase in temperature to 37.5–39 degrees, accompanied by weakness, chills, malaise and increased heartbeat. By the way, it is believed that each “additional” degree increases the heart rate (heart rate) by 7–10 beats per minute.
Severe pain in the groin area.
Obvious signs of damage to the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system. The reason for this “promiscuity” of salpingitis is that the development inflammatory process leads to enlargement and swelling of the fallopian tubes, which because of this begin to put pressure on the surrounding tissues, and the resulting pain begins to radiate to the rectum and tailbone.
Abnormal vaginal discharge (purulent, foamy, or even bloody, depending on the type of pathogen).

Symptoms of chronic (sluggish) salpingitis

Manifestations are often blurred and implicit, and the patient’s general condition is satisfactory or even good. The most important diagnostic criterion - temperature - in this case turns out to be uninformative, and 36.9–37.2 degrees (that is, the low-grade threshold) few general practitioners would consider a sufficient basis for an additional in-depth examination.

One of the few visible manifestations of chronic salpingitis is certain menstrual irregularities. Painful or scanty periods (in other words, algomenorrhea and menstruation) are unlikely to add a good mood to a woman, and in the absence of adequate therapy) may well lead to infertility.

Symptoms of left-sided salpingitis

The external manifestations of this subtype are not much different from the classic ones (we talked about them earlier), therefore only a doctor can determine the presence of the disease during a qualified gynecological examination. Characteristic signs left-sided salpingitis - swelling of the mucous membrane of the fallopian tube, ulceration of their surface layer, the formation of a cavity filled with mucus, pus and/or blood.

Symptoms of right-sided salpingitis

Due to some features anatomical structure In women, it can be easily confused with appendicitis, and the existing signs of the disease are associated with damage to muscle tissue, swelling and formation. In other words, it is almost impossible to determine the presence of right-sided salpingitis based only on external manifestations.