Sexually Transmitted Diseases During Pregnancy
Women who are pregnant can become infected with the same sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as women who are not pregnant. However, the consequences of an STD can be significantly more serious, even life threatening, for a woman and her baby if the woman becomes infected with an STD while pregnant. It is important that women be aware of the harmful effects of STDs and knows how to protect themselves and their children against infection.
STDs can have many of the same consequences for pregnant women as women who are not pregnant and can cause cervical and other cancers, chronic hepatitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other complications. Many STDs in women are silent; that is, without signs or symptoms.
STDs can be passed from a pregnant woman to the baby before, during, or after the baby’s birth. A pregnant woman with an STD may also have early onset of labor, premature rupture of the membranes surrounding the baby in the uterus, and uterine infection after delivery.
The harmful effects of STDs in babies may include stillbirth, low birth weight (less than 5 pounds), conjunctivitis, pneumonia, neonatal sepsis, neurologic damage, blindness, deafness, acute hepatitis, meningitis, chronic liver disease, and cirrhosis. Most of these problems can be prevented if the mother receives routine prenatal care, which includes screening tests for STDs starting early in pregnancy and repeated close to delivery, if necessary. Other problems can be treated if the infection is found at birth.
Some of the common STDs are discussed here.
1) Bacterial Vaginosis:
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria that are naturally present in the vagina. It affects about 16 out of every 100 pregnant women.
Bacterial vaginosis is sometimes called vaginitis. It appears to be more common in women who:
• Have new sex partners
• Have more than one sex partner
• Douche
• Use an IUD for contraception.
It can be detected by various lab tests and treated by antibiotics.
Prevention:
Immediately contact the health care provider in case of:
• Vaginal discharge that smells bad
• Burning while urinating
• Itching around the genital area.
2) Chlamydia:
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection and is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections.
If a pregnant woman gets Chlamydia and is left untreated, she may have a premature baby. If a baby becomes infected during delivery, he or she may develop eye infections (pink eye, conjunctivitis) or breathing problems.
Chlamydia is known as a “silent” disease with mostly no symptoms. Some women have a change in vaginal discharge or pain when they urinate. Samples from the urine and the woman’s cervix are taken to detect the infection. It can be treated with antibiotics.
Prevention:
• Pregnant women should be screened for chlamydia early in the pregnancy. If infected antibiotic treatment is given to prevent the complications.
• The partner should also be screened for the infection.
• During pregnancy avoid having sex. Or else:
- Have sex with only one partner who has been screened for chlamydia, and is not infected;
- Use a latex condom.
3) Genital Herpes:
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted viral infection. Herpes can cause painful genital sores. It is more common in women than men.
Babies can get the disease during delivery as they pass through the birth canal. If a baby does get herpes, the disease can be fatal. Fortunately, women rarely pass the infection to their babies during delivery. If a woman has active sores when she delivers, she usually has a C- section.
Prevention:
• Avoid having sex during pregnancy to avoid the genital herpes.
• Or else, have sex with only one partner who is only having sex with you, has been tested for genital herpes, and is not infected.
• Condoms may not protect against infection because they don’t always cover all infected areas.
4) Genital Warts:
Genital warts are caused by HPV (Human PapillomaVirus) infection. Genital warts are growths or bumps. They can be raised or flat. Sometimes they look like cauliflower. They can be hard to see, especially when they are inside the genital tract.
Hormone changes during pregnancy can cause genital warts to increase in number, get larger, or bleed. If the warts grow large or uncomfortable while a woman is pregnant, a health care provider can treat them. Pregnant women who have HPV infection usually do not pass it to their babies.
Prevention:
• Do not use over the counter wart treatments in the genital area.
• Avoid having sex during pregnancy.
• Or else, practice safe sex.
5) Gonorrhea:
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium. The bacteria can grow in several places in the body, including the cervix, uterus, urethra, mouth, throat, eyes and anus.
Women who have gonorrhea can develop serious complications if the infection is untreated. They can get pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries in the woman’s pelvis. It can cause pain and may also cause infertility. Untreated gonorrhea can also spread to the blood or joints leading to the life threatening conditions.
Babies can get the infection during delivery as they pass through the birth canal. In babies, gonorrhea can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection.
Prevention:
• Pregnant women should be screened for gonorrhea early in the pregnancy. If infected antibiotic treatment is given to prevent the complications.
• The partner should also be screened for the infection.
• During pregnancy avoid having sex. Or else:
- Have sex with only one partner who has been screened for chlamydia, and is not infected;
- Use a latex condom.
6) Syphilis:
Syphilis is a serious sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium. Syphilis can infect both a woman and her fetus during pregnancy.
Most pregnant women are tested for syphilis at an early prenatal visit. Syphilis is treated with antibiotics.
If a pregnant woman has syphilis and she is not treated, her baby can become infected and may even die. Infected babies, who are not treated soon after birth, are at risk for serious health problems, including brain damage and blindness.
Prevention:
• Pregnant women should be screened for syphilis early in the pregnancy. If infected antibiotic treatment is given to prevent the complications.
• The partner should also be screened for the infection.
• During pregnancy avoid having sex. Or else:
- Have sex with only one partner who has been screened for chlamydia, and is not infected;
- Use a latex condom.
7) HIV Infection:
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Almost all people who have HIV infection go on to develop AIDS. People who have AIDS cannot fight off diseases.
Many people do not know if they have the HIV virus infection. An infected woman can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. However, HIV-fighting drugs can dramatically decrease the risk that a mother will transmit the disease to her baby at the time of birth.
Prevention:
• Pregnant women should be screened for HIV before or early in the pregnancy.
• The partner should also be screened for the infection.
• During pregnancy avoid having sex. Or else:
- Have sex with only one partner who has been screened for chlamydia, and is not infected;
- Use a latex condom.
• In case of infection, new mothers should not breast feed their baby.
8) Trichomoniasis:
Trichomoniasis (also called “tric”) is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a parasite. The common symptoms include:
- A frothy, yellow-green discharge from the vagina with a strong odor
- Itching and irritation in the genital area
- Discomfort when they urinate or have sex.
Trichomoniasis can usually be cured with one dose of an antibiotic.
Immediately contact the doctor if the above symptoms are observed.
Prevention:
• Pregnant women should be screened for HIV before or early in the pregnancy.
• The partner should also be screened for the infection.
• During pregnancy avoid having sex. Or else:
- Have sex with only one partner who has been screened for chlamydia, and is not infected;
- Use a latex condom.
• In case of infection, new mothers should not breast feed their baby.
