Salpingitis refers to a condition of inflammation and infection involving the fallopian tubes. While it can exist on its own, it is most often found in the setting of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Given that the abdomen is usually sterile, the most common source of microorganisms is due to ascending infection from the vagina.

The typical patient demographic includes women in their reproductive years. Salpingitis is rare in premenarchal girls, and potential sexual abuse should be considered in those patients. Risk factors include having a known sexually transmitted infection (STI), an operative procedure involving the uterus, multiple sexual partners, or a decreased immune response.

Patients may present with symptoms of an acute abdomen (ie, fever, abdominal pain, nausea / vomiting, and back pain). Some patients will have purulent vaginal discharge.

Salpingitis may also be a chronic, low-level inflammation / infection with patient complaints of cyclic pelvic pain during ovulation or menses as well as during intercourse.