Diseases | Fallopian tubes

Diseases

There are several diseases that affect the fallopian tubes. It is not uncommon for bacteria rising from the vagina, cervix or uterus to cause inflammation of one or both fallopian tubes (salpingitis).Those affected often have abdominal pain, which can sometimes get worse during sexual intercourse or when urinating. Depending on how severe the inflammation is, there are also general signs of inflammation such as fatigue or fever, or vaginal discharge (genital fluoride).

This inflammation can usually be treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, however, complications occur which should not be underestimated. In some patients, the inflammation continues to rise, eventually leading to involvement of the ovaries (pelvic inflammatory disease) or the peritoneum (peritonitis), two clinical pictures that are accompanied by considerably more severe symptoms.

In addition, the ciliated epithelium may be damaged and/or adhesions or scarring may occur within the fallopian tubes. In the worst case, these processes can then lead to infertility, as the sperm and/or the egg can no longer be transported properly. In the event of an unfulfilled desire to have a child, it is therefore always essential to check the permeability of the fallopian tubes as part of a diagnostic procedure.

The principle is used in the sterilization of the woman. In this procedure, known as “tubal ligation”, the fallopian tubes are simply “tied off”. The advantage of this permanent contraception is that it can be reversed at any time by means of another intervention.

Another complication of tubal ligation, but not the only cause, is tubal pregnancy (extrauterine pregnancy). In this case, the fertilized egg mistakenly does not nest in the uterus, but already in the mucosa of the fallopian tube. Here, however, the conditions for the embryo to grow are not given, as there is too little space and not enough nutrients are available.

For this reason, the embryo normally separates from the mucous membrane relatively early on by itself, which often goes completely unnoticed by the woman. Sometimes, however, this detachment leads to scarring, which can then again be the reason for infertility. In rare cases, however, the embryo continues to develop in the fallopian tube for a while.

If this is not noticed, the fallopian tube may at some point burst or rupture due to lack of space. This complication is an absolute emergency, as there can be massive bleeding from the fallopian tube into the abdominal cavity. Those affected complain of sudden severe abdominal pain and may even go into a life-threatening state of shock.