What may increase your risk for a problem during pregnancy or after delivery?
Content provided by Healthwise
What may increase your risk for a problem during pregnancy or after delivery?
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
- Recent gynecologic procedures or surgery
- A history of cancer of the cervix
- A history of physical or sexual abuse
- A history of a previous blood clot
- A history of surgery to remove the spleen
- Previous miscarriage
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Engaging in high-risk sexual practices, such as multiple partners, unprotected intercourse, or prostitution
- Smoking or other tobacco use
Medicines
- Anticoagulant medicines such as aspirin, Coumadin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Antiseizure medicines, such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
- Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
- Radiation therapy
Diseases
- Adrenal disease, such as Cushing's syndrome or Addison's disease
- Asthma
- Current and prior pelvic infections (pelvic inflammatory disease)
- Coronary artery disease
- Depression or other mental health problems, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
- Diabetes
- Endometriosis
- Heart failure
- High blood pressure
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Kidney failure
- Leukemia
- Liver disease
- Pituitary disease
- Sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea
- Sickle cell disease
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Thyroid disease
- Uterine fibroids
- Von Willebrand's disease or other bleeding disorders
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Last Updated | August 6, 2008 |
| Last updated: | August 06, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine, Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
© 1995-2007, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. By using AOL Body, you indicate that you have read, understood, and agreed to our Terms of Service, and AOL Body Advertising Policy. Read more about our content partners.
Search
Where Does it Hurt?
If you're experiencing aches and pains we can help you find answers. Find out what your symptoms mean for your health.
