What may increase your risk for a problem from vaginal bleeding?

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