Hematosalpinx (sometimes also hemosalpinx) is a medical condition involving bleeding into the

fallopian tubes The fallopian tubes, also known as uterine tubes, oviducts or salpinges (singular salpinx), are paired tubes in the human female that stretch from the uterus to the ovaries. The fallopian tubes are part of the female reproductive system. In ot ...

Symptoms

A hematosalpinx from a tubal pregnancy may be associated with pelvic pain and uterine bleeding. A

gynecologic ultrasound Gynecologic ultrasonography or gynecologic sonography refers to the application of medical ultrasonography to the female pelvic organs (specifically the uterus, the ovaries, and the fallopian tubes) as well as the bladder, the adnexa, and the rec ...

will show the hematosalpinx. A hematosalpinx from other conditions may be painless but could lead to uterine bleeding.

Causes

A number of causes may account for a hematosalpinx, by far the most common being a

tubal pregnancy Tubal ( he, תֻבָל, ''Ṯuḇāl'', ), in Genesis 10 (the "Table of Nations"), was the name of a son of Japheth, son of Noah. He is known to be the father of the Caucasian Iberians (ancestors of the Georgians) according to primary sources ...

. Blood may also escape into the peritoneal cavity leading to a

hemoperitoneum Hemoperitoneum (also haemoperitoneum, sometimes also hematoperitoneum) is the presence of blood in the peritoneal cavity. The blood accumulates in the space between the inner lining of the abdominal wall and the internal abdominal organs. Hemoper ...

. A hematosalpinx can also be associated with

endometriosis Endometriosis is a disease of the female reproductive system in which cells similar to those in the endometrium, the layer of tissue that normally covers the inside of the uterus, grow outside the uterus. Most often this is on the ovaries, f ...

or tubal carcinoma. Further, if menstrual blood flow is obstructed ( cryptomenorrhea), caused for instance by a

transverse vaginal septum A vaginal septum is a vaginal anomaly that is partition within the vagina; such a septum could be either longitudinal or transverse. In some affected women, the septum is partial or does not extend the length or width of the vagina. Pain during ...

, and gets backed up it may lead to a hematosalpinx.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis may include, but is not limited to, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and laparoscopy.

Treatment

Treatment is directed at the underlying condition and is usually surgical.

References

External links