A salpingectomy is a surgical procedure involving the removal of one or both fallopian tubes, the muscular ducts that transport the egg from the ovary to the uterus. Removing one tube is a unilateral salpingectomy, while removing both is a bilateral salpingectomy. This surgery is commonly performed for permanent contraception, to treat an ectopic pregnancy, or to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. A frequent concern following this procedure is whether it will impact the menstrual cycle. This information explains the biological reality of how tube removal affects, or rather does not affect, the body’s hormonal rhythm.
The Hormonal Reality: Why Periods Remain Unchanged
The crucial factor determining the continuation of the menstrual cycle is the function of the ovaries, which are the body’s primary source of reproductive hormones. The fallopian tubes are simply passageways and do not produce any hormones themselves. Because a salpingectomy removes only the tubes while leaving the hormone-producing ovaries and the uterus intact, the underlying hormonal process remains unchanged.
The menstrual cycle is regulated by the rhythmic fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone secreted by the ovaries. These hormones signal the uterine lining to thicken, and when fertilization does not occur, the lining is shed as a period. Since the ovaries continue to release these hormones on the same schedule, the uterine lining prepares and sheds just as it did before the surgery.
The blood supply that nourishes the ovaries is preserved during a salpingectomy, ensuring their continued hormonal output. Studies show no significant negative impact on ovarian reserve or overall hormone levels. Therefore, the physiological mechanism that controls the timing, flow, and duration of the monthly period is not permanently altered.
Short-Term Menstrual Changes Following Surgery
While the fundamental menstrual cycle is unaffected, patients may experience temporary changes in the first one or two cycles immediately following the procedure. The physical stress of surgery can cause a temporary disruption in the hormonal rhythm, which may result in a slight delay in the start of the first period.
General anesthesia and pain management medications during recovery can also influence the timing of the cycle. Some individuals report that their first period after surgery is either heavier or lighter, or is accompanied by more discomfort than usual. These variations are transient and are related to the body’s recovery process, not a long-term change to the menstrual mechanism.
It is also common to experience some vaginal bleeding or spotting in the days immediately following the salpingectomy. This blood is a result of the surgical site healing and is not related to the actual menstrual flow. Any temporary variations in the cycle typically resolve within a few months.
Addressing Misconceptions: Tubal Removal vs. Ovarian Removal
The common belief that having the tubes removed will stop the period or cause early menopause stems from confusion with different surgical procedures. A salpingectomy is distinct from an oophorectomy, which is the surgical removal of one or both ovaries. Removing the ovaries immediately halts estrogen and progesterone production, triggering surgical menopause and ending the menstrual cycle.
In some medical situations, a patient may undergo a salpingo-oophorectomy, which is the combined removal of the fallopian tube and the ovary on the same side. If both ovaries are removed in a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, the cessation of periods is caused by the removal of the ovaries, not the tubes. When the ovaries are preserved, the menstrual cycle continues normally.
A salpingectomy is also different from a hysterectomy, which is the removal of the uterus. If the uterus is removed, periods will cease, regardless of whether the ovaries are left intact. When a patient has only the fallopian tubes removed, the hormonal system and the structure responsible for the period remain functional.