Fallopian tube removal, medically known as salpingectomy, involves surgically removing one or both fallopian tubes. This procedure is used for permanent sterilization, to treat an ectopic pregnancy, or as a preventative measure against ovarian cancer, particularly in high-risk individuals. As with most pelvic surgeries, some post-operative bleeding or discharge is common and expected during healing. Understanding the characteristics of normal bleeding helps patients identify when recovery is progressing as anticipated and when a symptom warrants medical concern.
Expected Post-Operative Bleeding Patterns
Normal post-operative bleeding following a salpingectomy is typically light vaginal spotting, significantly less than a normal menstrual flow. This bleeding is minimal and should only require a light pad or panty liner. The discharge color often shifts from light pink or dark red to a brownish hue, indicating older blood as the body clears residual fluid.
Spotting duration varies but commonly lasts from a few days up to one to two weeks. It is not unusual for spotting to be intermittent, sometimes stopping completely before briefly resuming. Small blood clots, dime-sized or smaller, are also considered normal.
Sources of Post-Surgical Discharge
The fluid noticed after a salpingectomy can originate from several areas, and not all discharge is related to internal bleeding. The most common source of vaginal bleeding is the surgical site where the fallopian tube was detached near the uterus. This minor trauma sheds a small amount of blood into the uterine cavity, which exits vaginally.
Incision Drainage
Discharge can also stem from the small abdominal incisions, particularly after a laparoscopic procedure. This is often a clear or slightly yellowish-pink fluid, known as serosanguinous drainage, which is a mixture of serum and blood. This minor seepage is a normal sign of wound healing.
Increased Vaginal Discharge
The body naturally increases clear or white vaginal discharge during the healing phase following pelvic surgery. This discharge helps keep the area clean. Patients may also notice small threads of material, which are remnants of internal stitches used near the cervix or vagina that dissolve naturally over time.
Signs Requiring Immediate Medical Care
While light spotting is normal, any sudden increase in the volume of blood or a change in associated symptoms requires immediate contact with a healthcare provider. Heavy bleeding, especially when accompanied by dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, may be a sign of significant blood loss requiring urgent intervention.
Signs of concern include:
- Soaking more than one standard sanitary pad per hour for two consecutive hours.
- Passing blood clots larger than a golf ball, or experiencing a continuous flow of bright red blood that does not lessen over time.
- A fever that reaches 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or the onset of uncontrollable chills.
- Severe, worsening abdominal pain not relieved by prescribed pain medication.
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge, or discharge that is distinctly greenish or yellowish, which can indicate a pelvic infection.
- Signs of localized infection at the abdominal incision sites, such as increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pus draining from the wound.