A type of pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis is an infection in the fallopian tubes. It’s typically cased by a sexually transmitted disease like chlamydia or gonorrhea, but bacteria that causes it can also enter the body through a surgical procedure like a biopsy or even childbirth or miscarriage. About 1 million women develop a pelvic inflammatory disease each year in the US.
Symptoms of salpingitis usually include fever, severe pelvic pain and sometimes a vaginal discharge complete with an off color or smell. Like many infections, salpingitis is treatable with antibiotics, although in more severe cases you may have to stay in a hospital to receive more intensive antibiotic treatments.
Unfortunately, the more episodes you have of salpingitis, the higher your chances of developing a tubal obstruction — that’s having a blockage in your fallopian tubes that can interfere with your ability to conceive naturally. They also increase your risk of developing an ectopic pregnancy. Luckily, even if this is the case, IVF is still an option.
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