I know that salpingitis is the inflammation of the fallopian tube... question is: is it a sexually transmitted disease? Otherwise, how can one get it?

Background: Acute salpingitis is a gynecologic condition consisting of infection and inflammation of the oviducts. In most clinical situations, the terms acute salpingitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) are used synonymously to describe acute infection of the female upper genital tract. PID is a condition that lacks a precise definition and may include infection of any or all of the following anatomic locations: the endometrium (endometritis), the oviducts (salpingitis), the ovaries (oophoritis), the uterine wall (myometritis), the uterine serosa and broad ligaments (parametritis), and the pelvic peritoneum. In addition, a tuboovarian abscess (TOA) may form. Many authors prefer the term salpingitis because, at a minimum, the oviduct (fallopian tube) is involved, and most of the long-term sequelae of PID result from destruction of the tubal architecture.


Pathophysiology: Most cases of acute salpingitis occur in 2 stages. First is acquisition of a vaginal or cervical infection. Second is ascent of the infection to the upper genital tract. Although the exact mechanism of ascent is unknown, retrograde menstrual flow and opening of the cervix during menstruation is theorized to facilitate ascent of infection. Surgical procedures, such as endometrial biopsy, curettage, and hysteroscopies, break the cervical barrier, predisposing women to these infections. Also, alterations in the cervicovaginal microenvironment resulting from antibiotic treatment, ovulation, menstruation, or sexually transmitted disease (STD) can disrupt the balance of endogenous flora, causing normally nonpathogenic organisms to overgrow and ascend to the upper genital tract.

These changes also may facilitate the ascent of pathogens, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis. Intercourse also may contribute to ascent of infection, with uterine coital contractions mechanically inducing organisms to ascend. In addition, sperm can carry organisms into the upper genital tract following intercourse.

The organisms most commonly associated with acute salpingitis are N gonorrhoeae and C trachomatis, but, unlike infection in many other areas of the body, acute salpingitis is usually polymicrobial in nature, and other major organisms include Ureaplasma urealyticum and mixed anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. The contribution of non-STD acute salpingitis is unknown but may be as high as 20%. Recent studies, including a large (n=1179) multicenter US study, have not supported an association between baseline Gardnerella vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis and the development of PID except in a small subgroup of women with more than 2 recent sexual partners.

So you can see it is not always an STD that causes Salpingitis.