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 doctor.

Conditions

• Are or think you might be pregnant
• Are menopausal or have gone through menopause
• Exposure to a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• History of a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• History of:
  • Abnormal Pap smear
  • Cervicitis
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Frequent vaginal infections
• Obesity
• Previous surgery to vaginal or pelvic area

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Douching or the use feminine hygiene products
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Exposure to a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• Have multiple sex partners or high-risk sex partners
• Smoking or other tobacco use

Medicines

• Antibiotics, such as penicillin or sulfa
• Birth control pills (oral contraceptives)
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Radiation therapy

Diseases

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Syphilis