Overview
What is a salpingectomy?
A salpingectomy is a surgical procedure where one or both of your fallopian tubes are removed. The fallopian tubes are the pathway for the egg to reach the uterus when conception occurs. Your fallopian tubes are located on the top and on either side of your uterus, almost like a set of horns.
When you have one fallopian tube removed, it's called a unilateral salpingectomy. However, if both fallopian tubes are removed, it's referred to as bilateral salpingectomy.
Who gets a salpingectomy?
Women who have certain health conditions associated with their fallopian tubes may get a salpingectomy. It's also recommended for women with a high risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer due to BRCA gene mutations. Removing your fallopian tubes can help prevent women from getting these types of cancers because the most severe forms of ovarian cancer often begin in the fallopian tubes.
Why does someone need a salpingectomy?
A salpingectomy is performed to treat certain medical issues like:
- Ectopic pregnancy.
- Cancer of the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes.
- Infection in the fallopian tubes.
- Endometriosis in the fallopian tubes.
- Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes.
It can also permanently prevent pregnancy if you don't wish to become pregnant. If you're at higher risk for developing ovarian cancer, your healthcare provider may recommend a salpingectomy as a precaution.
What are the types of salpingectomy I can get?
You can have one or both of your fallopian tubes removed. The two main types of salpingectomy are:
- Unilateral salpingectomy. Only one fallopian tube is removed. This means you may still become pregnant since you still have one working fallopian tube.
- Bilateral salpingectomy. This is when both fallopian tubes are removed. You wouldn't be able to get pregnant naturally, but IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is an option if you wish to become pregnant and still have a uterus.
You may have part of the tube removed (partial salpingectomy) or the entire tube removed (total salpingectomy). For the purposes of sterilization, it is acceptable to perform either a partial or total bilateral salpingectomy. If the surgery is necessary for a health condition, then the entire fallopian tube is typically removed.
Procedure Details
How do I prepare for a salpingectomy?
Your healthcare provider will review the procedure with you and go over any instructions for pre-and post-operative care. Depending on the type of salpingectomy you're having, your age and other medical conditions, these instructions may vary. Make sure you understand the risks of a salpingectomy, the expected recovery time and how the procedure is performed.
If you have an ectopic pregnancy, your salpingectomy procedure is considered a life-threatening emergency.
What happens during a salpingectomy?
There are two types of salpingectomy surgical methods:
- Laparoscopic salpingectomy. A minimally invasive surgery performed using a laparoscope, a thin instrument with a light and camera at the end. It's inserted through the abdomen using a small incision. Your abdomen is then inflated with gas to allow the surgeon to see your uterus and fallopian tubes in detail. Finally, surgical tools are inserted through other small incisions in your abdomen to remove the fallopian tubes. After removing excess blood and fluid, your surgeon will close the incisions with stitches or medical glue.
- Open abdominal salpingectomy. One large incision is made across your abdomen (called a laparotomy). Your surgeon will be able to access your fallopian tubes through this incision. Once your surgeon removes the fallopian tubes, they stitch or staple the incision closed.
A laparoscopic approach is preferred because it's less invasive with a shorter recovery time and lower risk of complications. But an open approach may be necessary depending on other factors.
What happens after a salpingectomy?
After a salpingectomy, you're taken to a recovery room for monitoring. If your surgery was performed laparoscopically, you might be able to go home the same day. If you had an open salpingectomy, you typically remain in the hospital overnight. Your healthcare provider will help you manage any pain or discomfort.
The exact recovery time varies. Everyone heals at a different rate, but it's best to assume you'll need several days of rest after surgery.
Before leaving the hospital or surgical center, make sure you receive post-operative instructions on when you can resume day-to-day activities like showering, using stairs, taking medications, driving, and returning to work.
Care at Cleveland Clinic
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Risks / Benefits
What are the advantages of getting a salpingectomy?
Salpingectomy treats certain medical conditions and prevents ovarian cancers in women who are at higher risk. The main benefit of the procedure is to relieve symptoms caused by conditions of the fallopian tubes and lower your risk of developing cancer. A salpingectomy can also offer permanent contraception so you will never become pregnant.
What are the risks of having a salpingectomy?
As with most surgeries, there are risks associated with a salpingectomy:
- Bleeding at the surgery site.
- Reaction to general anesthesia.
- Blood clots.
- Damage to surrounding organs and tissues.
- Infection.
If you notice any of these symptoms during recovery, contact your healthcare provider.
Recovery and Outlook
What is the recovery time after a salpingectomy?
Most people will recover within a few days from a laparoscopic salpingectomy. However, it might take up to 14 days to resume your day-to-day lifestyle. You can return to work when you are able, although you might need modifications for a short time.
Recovery takes longer if you had an open abdominal salpingectomy or additional procedures. You can expect a slower recovery that lasts four to six weeks. This is because your incision site may be sore or painful, making it a challenge to resume your normal activities. Talk to your healthcare provider about modifications you should be making during your recovery.
Follow your healthcare provider's recommendations about activities to avoid after surgery, including things like sexual intercourse. You should avoid certain exercises, lifting heavy objects and anything that puts strain on your abdomen for at least two to six weeks, depending on the type of surgery you had.
Can I get pregnant after a salpingectomy?
It depends on what type of salpingectomy you had. If you have a unilateral salpingectomy (only one fallopian tube is removed), you'll be able to get pregnant, assuming the other fallopian tube is still functioning. If both fallopian tubes are removed (bilateral salpingectomy), you are unable to get pregnant naturally.
If you've had a salpingectomy, you can pursue an IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) pregnancy. IVF is a process that involves fertilizing your eggs in a lab, then transferring them into your uterus.
Will I get my period after a salpingectomy?
The fallopian tubes aren't responsible for your periods, so you'll continue to have periods after salpingectomy.
When to Call the Doctor
When should I see my healthcare provider?
If you've had one or both of your fallopian tubes removed, you should watch for these signs:
- Swelling or redness at the incision.
- Leaking fluid or pus from the incision.
- Pelvic pain.
- Swelling or pain in your legs (a sign of blood clots).
- Fever or chills.
- Painful urination.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience these symptoms, as it could indicate complications from surgery.
Additional Details
Can my fallopian tubes grow back after getting a salpingectomy?
No, your fallopian tubes can't grow back. Your fallopian tubes are formed during fetal development. They can't grow back after they are completely removed.
What's the difference between a salpingectomy and a tubal ligation?
Tubal ligation is commonly referred to as "getting your tubes tied" This is misleading, as nothing is actually tied during a tubal ligation. Tubal ligation is any procedure that interrupts the fallopian tubes. This includes partial or total salpingectomy, placing clips or bands on the tubes, or cauterizing the tubes to cause scarring.
How is a salpingectomy different than an oophorectomy?
An oophorectomy is the removal of one or both of your ovaries, while a salpingectomy removes one or both of your fallopian tubes. Depending on your condition, your healthcare provider may perform both procedures at the same time. When one ovary and one fallopian tube are removed, it's called unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. If both fallopian tubes and both ovaries are removed simultaneously, it's called a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
How is a salpingectomy different than a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of your uterus. It may be performed to treat cervical or uterine cancer, fibroids, uterine prolapse, severe endometriosis and other conditions of the uterus. A woman can have both a hysterectomy and a salpingectomy performed as part of her treatment.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Your healthcare provider may recommend a salpingectomy to treat a condition or reduce your risk of developing ovarian cancer. It's a safe surgical procedure with a positive outlook. Talk to them about any concerns you have about the procedure and what you can expect afterward.
FAQs
What is the purpose of salpingectomy? ›
Salpingectomy is the surgical removal of one or both fallopian tubes. After this procedure, getting pregnant is usually more difficult. There are several reasons to get a salpingectomy, such as preventing ovarian cancer, ectopic pregnancy, tubal blockage, or infection.
How long do you have to be off work after a salpingectomy? ›Abdominal salpingectomy patients usually require about 3 – 6 weeks of recovery time, while laparoscopic patients will typically heal within 2-4 weeks. Both patients should be able to walk after about three days. Get plenty of rest during your recovery, but make an effort to get regular light exercise as well.
What precautions should be taken after salpingectomy? ›Do not douche, use tampons, or have sex until your healthcare provider says it is okay. These activities may cause infection. Do not exercise or lift anything heavy until your healthcare provider says it is okay. This may put too much stress on your incision.
Is salpingectomy major surgery? ›Salpingo-oophorectomy is a procedure to remove the fallopian tube (salpingectomy) and ovaries (oophorectomy), which are the female organs of reproduction. Since it requires anesthesia, overnight hospital stay, and removal of body parts, it is classified as major surgery. It requires 3-6 weeks to heal completely.
What is the failure rate of salpingectomy? ›Can cut Fallopian tubes grow again? After partial salpingectomy, the cut ends of the Fallopian tubes can heal back together and lead to pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy. As mentioned before, the failure risk of a partial salpingectomy is about 1%. If the Fallopian tubes are completely removed, they do not grow back.
How long does fallopian tube removal surgery take? ›The actual surgery takes about 30 minutes. Here is what typically happens during the procedure: The surgeon will make one or more small cuts (incisions) near your belly button. Sometimes the surgeon makes a small incision in your lower abdomen as well.
Can having your tubes removed cause hormonal imbalance? ›After tubal ligation, you might have a rapid decline in the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Whether this may occur is often debated but it is referred to as post-tubal ligation syndrome (PTLS).
Does salpingectomy affect uterus? ›Salpingectomy is the main treatment for ectopic pregnancy1 and a leading cause for uterine rupture (UR).
Do you stay in hospital after salpingectomy? ›After a salpingectomy, you're taken to a recovery room for monitoring. If your surgery was performed laparoscopically, you might be able to go home the same day. If you had an open salpingectomy, you typically remain in the hospital overnight. Your healthcare provider will help you manage any pain or discomfort.
How long will I bleed after salpingectomy? ›Most patients can go home the same day. You may have increased cramping and vaginal bleeding for a day or two after the procedure. You may experience gas pains for about a day or so due to gas administered during the procedure. This may extend into your upper abdomen and shoulder.
What is removed during a salpingectomy? ›
What is a salpingectomy? Salpingectomy is the surgical removal of one or both of a woman's fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes allow an egg from the ovaries to travel to the uterus. The tubes may be removed to treat problems related to them, including cancer.
Do you get a catheter during a salpingectomy? ›Once you're asleep, your nurse will place a small catheter inside your urethra to collect urine during your surgery (remember, you'll be getting IV fluids so you will be producing urine).
What not to do after fallopian tube removal? ›- Avoid lifting anything heavy for at least one or two weeks. ...
- Don't drink alcohol or drive for at least 24 hours.
- You can resume showers as usual. ...
- Gas in your abdomen may cause discomfort in your neck, shoulders and chest for 24 to 72 hours after surgery.
Sleeping in a semi-upright position is recommended, using a few pillows to elevate the head and shoulders to avoid putting pressure on the abdominal area. Avoid sleeping on your stomach or the side where the incisions were made.
What is the difference between a salpingectomy and a Salpingotomy? ›Salpingectomy is the surgical removal of a fallopian tube. Salpingostomy (also called neosalpingostomy) is the creation of an opening into the fallopian tube, but the tube itself is not removed in this procedure.
What position is salpingectomy surgery? ›The patient is positioned in a dorsal supine position and the patient's abdomen is prepped and draped in a sterile fashion. A transverse or vertical incision may be chosen depending on the indication for surgery, the patient's body habitus, and the preference of the surgeon.
Do you bleed after a salpingectomy? ›What will happen after a salpingectomy? Healthcare providers will monitor you until you are awake. You may have bleeding and discharge from your vagina for several days. If your surgery was done laparoscopically, you may also feel pain in your shoulder or back.
What is the minimum age for salpingectomy? ›The patient must be at least 21 years of age at the time consent is obtained. 4.
What age can you get a salpingectomy? ›Tubal ligation is a form of permanent sterilization. There is no age requirement for this procedure. However, federally funded health insurance plans, including Medicaid, may not pay for it if you're under 21.
Can salpingectomy cause ovarian failure? ›Overall, salpingectomy has no significant effects on ovarian reserve. However, the impact on IVF success and spontaneous pregnancy rates must be weighed by the indication for possible salpingectomy.
Are you put to sleep for fallopian tube removal? ›
How it's done. Your doctor will give you general anesthesia for the procedure, meaning you won't be awake. They'll make a small cut in your abdomen and remove any blocked parts of your fallopian tubes. They'll use absorbable stitches to reconnect the tubes.
Is it better to remove fallopian tubes? ›So, who should consider having their fallopian tubes removed? People who are at increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, such as those who carry the BRCA genetic mutation, are recommended to have a stand-alone surgery to remove fallopian tubes with both ovaries (called a risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy).
How bad does it hurt to get your tubes removed? ›You'll get general anesthesia, so you'll sleep through the procedure — you won't feel or remember anything. After the surgery, you may have pain for a little while from the procedure itself and/or from the gas that was pumped into your belly. But most people recover within a couple of days.
Can having your tubes removed cause weight gain? ›Since tubal ligation does not affect hormones or the appetite, it does not induce weight gain. Even though microsurgery can reconnect the tubes, a return to fertility is not guaranteed.
What to expect when you have your fallopian tubes removed? ›You may have pain in your belly for a few days after surgery. If you had a laparoscopy, you may also have a swollen belly or a change in your bowels for a few days. After a laparoscopy, you may also have some shoulder or back pain. This pain is caused by the gas your doctor used to help see your organs better.
Why are my periods worse after having tubes removed? ›Most women who develop abnormalities in their menstrual cycle after a tubal ligation will not have a serious medical condition. Most will have hormonal abnormalities, uterine fibroids, or anovualtion as the cause for changes in their menstrual cycle.
Does salpingectomy cause early menopause? ›Opportunistic salpingectomy is recommended as primary prevention for ovarian cancer. Opportunistic salpingectomy may cause earlier onset of menopause.
Does a salpingectomy affect menopause? ›In fact, bilateral salpingectomy or tubal ligation1 and conservative abdominal hysterectomy2 were sometimes related to decrease ovarian function and premature menopause. The decrease of hormonal secretion will cause endocrine disorders manifested by decreased libido, vaginal dryness, mood swings and vasomotor symptoms.
Can you get endometriosis after salpingectomy? ›Endometriosis was found in and about the tubal stumps in 30 of 36 patients who had had a previous salpingectomy or tubal sterilization.
How will a salpingectomy affect future pregnancy? ›Bilateral salpingectomy: This refers to the surgical removal of both the fallopian tubes. After this surgery, you would not be able to conceive and become pregnant naturally. However, if your uterus is intact, you can opt for in vitro fertilization (IVF).
What is the chance of ectopic after salpingectomy? ›
The recurrent ectopic pregnancy rates after salpingostomy, salpingectomy, and methotrexate treatment were 15.4, 9.8, and 8%, respectively [23]. Ding et al. found no difference in the rate of intrauterine pregnancy before and after salpingostomy or salpingectomy.
Is fallopian tube surgery safe? ›Tubal ligation is a procedure that provides permanent birth control. It's commonly called “getting your tubes tied.” In this surgery, your fallopian tubes are cut, blocked or sealed off to prevent pregnancy. Tubal ligation is safe and effective and can be done at any time.
What is the success rate of salpingectomy? ›Results. The crude IUP rates up to 24 months after surgery were 55.5% for salpingectomy, 50.9% for salpingostomy and 40.3% for tubal anastomosis treatments.
Does removing fallopian tubes cause hormonal imbalance? ›Tubal sterilization will not affect your hormone status. It should not cause the onset of menopause any earlier than your body was pre-determined to do so. Women often ask how their periods will change after a tubal. Studies have not consistently shown a change in a woman's period following tubal sterilization.
Can a salpingectomy cause early menopause? ›Opportunistic salpingectomy is recommended as primary prevention for ovarian cancer. Opportunistic salpingectomy may cause earlier onset of menopause.
Has anyone gotten pregnant after salpingectomy? ›A MEDLINE search revealed that this is the first reported case of spontaneous pregnancy following bilateral salpingectomy in the English-language literature and possibly only the second in world literature.
What happens to your eggs after salpingectomy? ›After surgery, each ovary still releases an egg. But the egg's passage through the fallopian tube is now blocked. Sperm also can't pass through the tube to the egg. When egg and sperm can't meet, pregnancy can't happen.
How common is salpingectomy? ›Approximately 600,000 women undergo sterilization in the United States each year, and laparoscopic fallopian tube interruption procedures are the most common. Removing the entire fallopian tube offers increased ovarian cancer risk reduction.
How long does a tubal salpingectomy take? ›After your salpingectomy procedure, which can last at least 45 minutes up to an hour, depending on each individual case, you will be taken out of the operating room and transferred to your hospital's recovery room.
What are the disadvantages of removing fallopian tubes? ›- Bleeding at the surgery site.
- Reaction to general anesthesia.
- Blood clots.
- Damage to surrounding organs and tissues.
- Infection.
What are the long term effects of fallopian tube removal? ›
- Regret After Sterilization. Though not all women will regret their decision to receive a tubal ligation, others may. ...
- Sterilization Failure & Ectopic Pregnancy. ...
- Menstrual Cycle Changes.
How long it takes you to fully recover depends on the kind of surgery you had. After a laparoscopy, it usually takes about 1 week. After a mini-laparotomy, it usually takes 1 to 3 weeks. If you had a mini-laparotomy after having a baby, your recovery may take longer.