What is a significant risk factor for ectopic pregnancy?

A history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a significant risk factor for ectopic pregnancy because PID can cause scarring and damage to the fallopian tubes. This scarring may interfere with the normal movement of the fertilized egg through the tubes, increasing the likelihood that it will implant outside the uterus, which is characteristic of an ectopic pregnancy. Women with PID have a higher incidence of ectopic pregnancies compared to those without this condition, highlighting the importance of PID as a risk factor in the development of ectopic pregnancies. Other risk factors such as high caffeine intake, advanced maternal age, and obesity may have some association with reproductive health but do not directly increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy to the same extent as a history of PID does.