Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere
with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more
serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to
tell your health professional.
Conditions
- Younger than age 10
- Have completed
menopause
- Pregnancy. Vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy may
indicate a serious problem, such as an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Later
in pregnancy, bleeding may indicate a problem with the
placenta.
- Intrauterine device (IUD) in place
- A recent
abnormal Pap test
- Recent gynecologic procedures or
surgery
- History of surgery to remove the spleen
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Engaging in high-risk sexual practices
Medicines
- Anticoagulant medicines such as aspirin, Coumadin, and
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Antiseizure medicines, such
as Dilantin or Depakote
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- Hormonal medicines, including:
- Birth control pills, Depo-Provera
injections, and Implanon implants
- Contraceptive implants, such as the levonorgestrel
intrauterine device (IUD) Mirena
- Hormone
replacement therapy (HRT)
- Medicines to prevent organ transplant
rejection
- Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy), such as
Cytoxan or tamoxifen
- Radiation therapy
- Steroids, such
as prednisone
- Thyroid medicine, such as Synthroid or
Levothroid
- Dilantin
- Antipsychotics
- Tricyclic
antidepressants
Diseases
- Adrenal disease, such as Addison's disease or
Cushing's disease
- Bleeding disorders, such as idiopathic
thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), hemophilia, or von Willebrand's
disease
- Cancer of the cervix, uterus, or vagina
- Current
and prior pelvic infections (pelvic inflammatory
disease)
- Diabetes
- Endometriosis
- Human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis)
- Kidney
failure
- Leukemia
- Liver disease
- Ovarian
cysts
- Pituitary disease
- Sickle cell
disease
- Thyroid disease
- Uterine fibroids
