Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Pregnancy

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) pose a serious threat to a woman’s health whenever she is infected with one. If you are infected with an STD during your pregnancy, though, both your health and the welfare of your child are endangered. Some STDs can even be life threatening for both you and your baby.

Many women have to deal with STDs during their pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that, in the United States, 800,000 women are affected by genital herpes during pregnancy; 200,000 pregnant women have chlamydia; and 80,000 pregnant women have trichomoniasis. Gonorrhea and Hepatitis B each affect an estimated 40,000 pregnant women while HIV and syphilis affect a combined 16,000 pregnant women.

Whereas chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis, hepatitis A, and pubic lice can all be treated and cured during pregnancy, there is currently no cure for genital herpes, hepatitis C or HIV. Although you can be treated to help reduce the risk of transmission of these viral infections, both can have serious, and even fatal, consequences in your child if left untreated.

Genital warts, although not as serious a threat to your child as many other STDs, can cause you a lot of discomfort during your pregnancy. Symptoms of this viral infection often flare up repeatedly throughout pregnancy. Get relief fast with a good genital warts treatment.

Regardless of whether you have been tested before, STD testing early in pregnancy and again closer to your due date is strongly encouraged for all pregnant women.

For more information on STDs and your risks check out our STDs guide available on www.epigee.org.

Visit our Pregnancy Complications forum to chat with other women about your STD concerns