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

• Men older than age 60
• Postmenopausal
• Having only one functioning kidney
• History of kidney infections
• History of kidney stones
• History of kidney transplant
• History of nephrotic syndrome
• Pregnancy
• Previous urinary tract surgery
• Recent catheterization or having a catheter currently in place
• Recent urinary tract procedure, such as cystoscopy or a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
• Sexual abuse
• A spinal cord injury
• Structural deformities of the urinary tract (present at birth or caused by injury or surgery)

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Exercise, such as running and bicycling
• High-risk sexual behavior, such as a recent increase in sexual intercourse or a new partner
• Using a diaphragm or spermicide for birth control

Medicines

• Blood-thinning medicines, such as warfarin, heparin, and aspirin
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as Elavil or Tofranil
• Medicines to prevent nausea, such as promethazine or prochlorperazine
• Antihistamines or medicines that contain antihistamines, such as Actifed, Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, Dimetapp, or Tavist
• Antiarrhythmics, such as Norpace
• Calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil or diltiazem
• Gastrointestinal medicines, such as Donnatal, Librax, Lomotil, or Pro-Banthine
• Opiates, such as meperidine (Demerol) or morphine
• Psychotropic medications, such as phenothiazines
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Radiation therapy

Diseases

• Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
• Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia or idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP)
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Hemophilia
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Kidney disease, such as acute kidney failure or chronic kidney disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Reiter's syndrome
• Sickle cell disease
• Von Willebrand's disease