Salpingectomy Side Effects

A salpingectomy is a surgical procedure in which a woman's fallopian tube is removed. Salpingectomies are performed to remove a tube because of infection; after an ectopic pregnancy or a pregnancy that implants inside the fallopian tube instead of the uterus; or because of medical problem such as endometriosis, where the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. Because a salpingectomy is a surgical procedure, it carries risks for side effects 2.

Types

Depending on the reason for the salpingectomy, the doctor may remove one tube, a unilateral salpingectomy, or both tubes, a bilateral salpingectomy. If one tube has become infected, a condition called salpingitis, the doctor will remove just that tube. If the infection is in both tubes, she will remove both.

Incision types

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Salpingectomies also differ in terms of incision types 2. With a laparscropic salpingectomy, the surgeon makes a tiny incision under the navel, using general or local anesthesia. If the surgeon needs to work with a larger area, she will make a bikini cut, which is a 4- to 6-inch incision just above the pubic hair line. This is generally done under general anesthesia.

Procedure effects

The side effects of a salpingectomy depend somewhat on how it was performed. With the laparoscopic salpingectomy, recovery time is shorter because of the tiny incision. The bikini cut is major surgery and with it comes increased pain and risk of hemorrhaging. With both types of incisions, there is risk for reaction to anesthesia (general of local), risk of infection and potential for scarring. Most women take about three days to recover after a salpingectomy. Because the bikini cut is major surgery, it will take longer to fully recover after the procedure.

Long-term effects

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Women who have unilateral salpingectomies have a great chance of pregnancy after the procedure. Pregnancy can occur on the months she ovulates from the side with the tube intact. If both tubes were removed during the procedure, natural conception is not possible. However, women who want to have children have the option of in vitro fertilization, where a man's sperm is combined with a woman's egg and placed into the woman's uterus.

Considerations

Depending on the reason for the procedure, a salpingectomy is often combined with other procedures such as a hysterectomy, or the removal of the uterus, or an oophorectomy, the removal of the ovaries. According to healthline.com, fallopian tubes and ovaries are also removed during 30 percent of hysterectomies.