You have your own health history. Talk with your doctor about your risks for infection. By talking openly and often with your doctor, you can take an active role in your care.

Getting Information

Here are some tips that will help you talk to your doctor:

Bring someone else with you. It helps to have a second person person hear what is said and think of questions to ask.
Write out your questions before your visit, so you don’t forget them.
Write down the answers you get, and make sure you know what you are hearing. Ask for more information if you need it.
Don't be afraid to ask your questions or ask where you can find more information about what you are talking about. You have a right to know.

Specific Questions to Ask Your Doctor

About Infections in Pregnancy

What kind of infection do I have?
Could I have more than one infection?
If I don’t have any signs, how do I know I have an infection?
What will the infection do to me and my growing baby?
What are the chances that the infection will be passed to my baby before, during, or after birth?
What are the lasting results of infection?

About Your Risk of Getting Infections in Pregnancy

Based on my health, lifestyle, and family background, am I at risk?
Am I working in a setting that puts me at higher risk for an infection?
How do I prevent infections?

About Treatment

How do I best treat the infection?
What medicines can help me?
- What are the benefits and side effects?
- Will they interact with other medicines, over the counter products, or dietary or herbal supplements I am already taking?
- Once I start using a medicine, how long will it take before I feel better? How long before the infection is gone?
What other options are there?
- Are there over the counter medicines that can treat this infection?
- What are the risks and benefits of these options?
How will I feel during treatment?
- Are there over the counter medications I can take to ease the signs of this infection?
Should I think about treating my growing baby?
Does my male partner need to be treated?
Should I think about treating my baby after birth?

About Lifestyle Changes

Do I need to stop working?
Can I still have sex?
What should I do to keep others from getting this infection?
Can I breastfeed if I have this infection?
What will I need to do to take care of myself and my growing baby during treatment?

About Your Outlook

Will my treatment cure the infection?
How will I know if my developing baby is healthy?

References:

About HIV/AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
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Updated July 23, 2018. Accessed October 13, 2018.

Tips for talking to your doctor. American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor website. Available at:
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Updated January 19, 2018. Accessed August 13, 2018.

Last reviewed May 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG
Last Updated: 8/13/2018

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