Pelvic inflammatory disease as a major risk factor for ectopic pregnancy

Introduction: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease can cause an inflammation of the acute or chronic type as a result of Sexually Transmitted Infections caused mainly by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. And since one of the consequences of PID is to block the uterine tubes, preventing the embryo from passing and implanting in the uterus, thus generating an ectopic pregnancy that can lead to the loss of the uterine tubes and even death. Objective: To verify Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in scientific evidence as one of the main risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. Methodology: Integrative Literature Review conducted between November 2020 and February 2021 using the electronic databases National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health PubMed and MEDLINE and the electronic journal Acervo Health. Studies published in full in Portuguese and English in the last five years (2016-2021) were included, while monographs, dissertations and case reports were excluded. Results: It was evidenced in the scientific literature that women who had already contracted some PID had a 12% to 15% chance of having ectopic pregnancy and that it is one of the main factors associated with the onset of ectopic pregnancy. The PID presented with one of the main consequences the salpingitis that is one of the precursor factors of ectopic pregnancy. Conclusion: It is necessary to have knowledge about clinical and epidemiological aspects of PID and ectopic pregnancy in women. It becomes fundamental for the prevention of future cases, as well as for an adequate management according to the particularities of each patient, highlighting also the importance of other studies that complement the information obtained and expand the approach regarding PID and ectopic pregnancy to effect changes in the existing reality.