Salpingectomy is the surgical removal of one or both fallopian tubes to treat conditions of the reproductive tract. Fallopian tubes are the channels that an egg travels through to get to the uterus after it is released from an ovary. Each ovary is connected to one fallopian tube.

This article explains a salpingectomy, including the purpose, procedure, risks, and recovery.

A doctor may recommend a salpingectomy for many reasons, typically to treat conditions affecting the reproductive tract.

Some treatments require the removal of both fallopian tubes, which is known as bilateral salpingectomy. For other treatments, doctors need to remove only one of the fallopian tubes. This is known as unilateral salpingectomy.

The purposes of salpingectomy include:

The use of unilateral or bilateral removal will depend on whether the condition affects one or both fallopian tubes. 

Salpingectomy is also a way to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, according to a study published in 2021.

Research has shown that most ovarian cancers begin in the fallopian tubes. The gold standard treatment for people with a greater chance of ovarian cancer is the removal of both the ovaries and the fallopian tubes, called a salpingo-oophorectomy.

Current guidelines do not recommend removal of only the fallopian tubes for ovarian cancer risk reduction.

Doctors may recommend removing the fallopian tubes during another gynecologic surgery, such as a hysterectomy, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). This can help reduce the likelihood of ovarian cancer and does not affect ovarian function. Keeping healthy ovaries prevents premature menopause.

Bilateral salpingectomy is also an option for permanent contraception, according to 2022 research. A related procedure is tubal ligation, more commonly known as “tying the tubes.”

Salpingectomy is invasive surgery, which means that a surgeon will need to make an incision or insert medical instruments into the body.

The procedure also typically involves general anesthesia. It can be an outpatient surgery, depending on which other surgeries are necessary.

There are two surgical approaches to the procedure.

A laparoscopic salpingectomy is a minimally invasive procedure. It involves small keyhole incisions in the abdomen.

Doctors use a laparoscope to take out the fallopian tubes. This thin, lighted tool has a camera on the end that allows doctors to see the fallopian tubes and remove them.

This method has a shorter recovery time, according to ACOG. You will also experience less pain and have a lower chance of infection, compared with the open approach. Because of this, doctors often prefer this approach. 

An open salpingectomy is traditional surgery. It involves a larger incision across the abdomen.

Sometimes, it is a better choice than laparoscopy. This includes when a doctor suspects cancers or infections and needs to directly view the area.

Open salpingectomy may require a hospital stay.

If you have the option of open salpingectomy or laparoscopic fallopian tube surgery, ask your doctor which one is best for you and your condition and why.

All surgeries carry risks and have the potential to cause complications, including:

It is also possible that a salpingectomy may damage nearby tissues and organs, according to ACOG. This includes the bowel, bladder, or ureters. If this happens during minimally invasive surgery, your doctor may need to switch to the open procedure to repair the damage.

Laparoscopic salpingectomy is usually an outpatient procedure, which means you may go home the same day of the surgery.

You will stay in the recovery room until you are stable and healthcare professionals clear you to go home. You will need someone to help you get home and stay with you for the first day.

If you had another procedure with the laparoscopic salpingectomy or had open salpingectomy instead, you may need to stay in the hospital.

You will have pain after a salpingectomy. It is usually less with the laparoscopic version. Call your doctor if your pain medication is not helping you manage the pain or if the pain changes or worsens. These can be signs of a complication.

In general, laparoscopic surgery has a shorter recovery time than open surgery. The recovery time can also vary if you have a more complex procedure, such as a hysterectomy.

Ask your doctor what to expect for your recovery and when you can resume activities. The timeframe can vary from a few days to several weeks.

Contact your doctor if you have questions and concerns between follow-up appointments. Call your doctor right away or seek immediate medical care if you have signs of potential complications, including:

Salpingectomy does not affect ovarian function and will not cause early menopause, according to ACOG. If you still have ovaries after a salpingectomy, you will continue to release an egg each month. 

With unilateral salpingectomy, pregnancy is still possible. If you have a positive pregnancy test, contact your doctor for an appointment.

Bilateral salpingectomy, on the other hand, is a reliable form of permanent contraception. The egg has nowhere to go and the body will break it down and resorb it.

Pregnancy after this procedure is very rare, according to a 2022 research review. If you still have your ovaries and uterus and desire a pregnancy, in vitro fertilization may be an option.

Here are some questions people often ask about salpingectomy.

The effects of salpingectomy vary depending on the type of procedure. For salpingectomy alone, you may not notice any changes. Fallopian tubes do not affect ovulation or periods.

You may or may not need to continue using birth control. This depends on whether you had unilateral or bilateral removal. Other procedures, such as hysterectomy or oophorectomy, can also determine side effects.

Salpingectomy does not affect ovarian function or hormones. So, it should not cause weight gain. If you have concerning weight gain, contact your doctor for an evaluation.

Salpingectomy is the removal of one or both fallopian tubes.

It can be a stand-alone procedure when it treats concerns with the tubes, such as ectopic pregnancy. It is also often part of another gynecologic surgery, such as a hysterectomy.

When doctors recommend salpingectomy to reduce the chance of ovarian cancer, it is a combined procedure with the removal of the ovaries.

The recovery time and postoperative effects can vary depending on these factors.

Privacy Policy | Advertising Policy | Privacy Preferences Center | Do Not Sell My Personal Information

© Copyright 2022 Healthgrades Marketplace, LLC, a Red Ventures Company, Patent US Nos. 7,752,060 and 8,719,052. All Rights Reserved. Third Party materials included herein protected under copyright law.

Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment.