STDs while Pregnant

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are extremely common, affecting millions of people in the United States daily. Certain STIs can be passed to a newborn during childbirth, and as such, it is extremely important to seek immediate treatment for an STI while pregnant to reduce the risk of harming the child.

Open communication with your sexual partners, and proper treatment both go a long way in supporting a healthy, happy pregnancy and fulfilling sex life even with a positive STI test. In this article, find out the risks of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during pregnancy, symptoms to watch out for, and how to protect your unborn baby from an infection. 

What Are STIs/STDs?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). These are infections that are primarily transmitted through sexual contact. However, they can sometimes also be passed through pregnancy, childbirth, and contact with infected blood. 

STIs can either be bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that there are somewhere around 68 million active STIs in America at any given time; that is about 1 in every 5 people.

The most common forms of STIs are bacterial, and include gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. These are typically treated with antibiotics in many cases. Other viral STIs are more difficult to treat, like human papillomavirus (HIV), and genital herpes simplex virus.

How Are STIs Diagnosed While Pregnant?

Typically, following a positive pregnancy test, a healthcare provider will do a test for common STIs to determine what risks there might be of transferring an infection to the baby. This test usually requires either a blood or urine sample and can be done relatively quickly at many healthcare providers’ offices.

When pregnant, new sexual partners or current partners could expose you to an STI. It is important to get tested again if you suspect having been exposed to an STI, to determine whether a new infection has taken place. Depending on your circumstances and your provider, you may be tested again prior to delivery to confirm that existing STIs have been addressed, or provisions have been made for safe delivery.

What Are the Symptoms of STIs?

There are many common STIs with diverse symptoms, and each case may present slightly differently than the next. However, there are certain symptoms to look out for when checking for the more common STIs. Below are some of them:

Chlamydia

• Pain or burning sensation during urination
• Abdominal or lower back pain
• Discharge from the penis or vagina
• Fever
• Pain in the vagina, testicles or rectum

Gonorrhea

• Cloudy or bloody discharge from the vagina, penis, or anus
• Pain or burning feeling during urination
• Pain during bowel movements
• Itching sensation around the anus
• Heavy bleeding during or between periods

Trichomoniasis

• Discharge from the penis or vagina with a clear white or greenish-yellow color
• Itching, burning, or soreness on the penis or vagina
• Strong odor from the vagina, often described as “fishy”
• Pain during sex or urination

HIV

• Fever, headache and sore throat
• Chills and night sweats
• Rashes or ulcers on the mouth
• Fatigue

Genital Herpes

• Small, open sores on the genitals or rectum
• Pain and itching around the genitals and rectum
• Vaginal discharge

HPV

• Small warts on or around the genitals, sometimes with a cauliflower appearance
• Itching and discomfort in the pelvic region
• Bleeding during sex

Hepatitis

• Nausea, vomiting and upset stomach
• Dark urine or clay-colored stool
• Yellow, jaundiced skin
• Fever
• Pain near the liver - under the ribs on the right side of the body
• Fatigue

Syphilis

• Rash anywhere on the body, typically without any itching
• Fever, sore throat and fatigue
• Headaches and swollen lymph nodes
• Weight loss or sudden baldness

STI Treatment While Pregnant

STI treatment is typically the same whether or not a person is pregnant. However, when pregnant, it is important to consult with a medical professional. Some antibiotics have been found to be safer for pregnant people to take, and you may require medication based on how far into your pregnancy you are.

If you have an STI, or believe you may have been exposed to one, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible to discuss possible treatment options that will be best for you and your pregnancy.

Risk of STIs to the Baby, While Pregnant

Certain STIs can infect the baby both during pregnancy and during delivery. Bacterial STIs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea, can infect the baby during birth, while others, like syphilis, can infect the baby even during gestation. If you have been exposed, it is best to seek treatment immediately to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.

Viral STIs, like herpes, can be passed to the child during delivery. So suppressive antiviral therapy is recommended in many cases where the parent intends to give birth naturally. Some parents may need to have a cesarean section if they have active herpes sores prior to giving birth.

Other more serious infections, like HIV, can be suppressed using modern antivirals during pregnancy and childbirth, to dramatically reduce the risk of spreading the infection to the child. According to the National Institutes of Health on STIs in pregnancy, the risk of passing HIV to the child can be reduced to below 1 percent in most cases, by using the right antiviral medication during pregnancy.

Preventing STIs While Pregnant

The most surefire preventative measure one can take to avoid contracting an STI, is by abstaining from sexual intercourse entirely. In most cases, this is not necessary, as long as you and any potential new partners are being screened for STIs regularly. Although the risk of acquiring a new STI in a monogamous relationship is low, it might put your mind at ease to have your partner take a test as well, to make sure the baby is not put at risk unnecessarily.

When having sex with a new partner, condoms can prevent many of the most common STDs. They are, however, not completely effective in preventing infections like genital herpes and HPV, which can spread through skin contact in areas not covered by a condom.

In Conclusion

Navigating the treatment of an STI during pregnancy is often very similar to navigating it when you are not pregnant. Still, special considerations have to be made to avoid harming the baby or passing an infection on to them during childbirth. 

By communicating openly with your sexual partners and healthcare providers, many STIs can be successfully avoided, and existing infections either cured or treated, to reduce their impact on your health and the health of your unborn child.

If you have further questions or concerns about your reproductive health, Nevada Fertility Center has facilities  the country to assist you in your pregnancy journey.

STIs While Pregnant FAQ

Can I breastfeed if I have an STI?

The safety of breastfeeding when you have an STI depends on the STI itself. In some cases, like chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, and trichomoniasis, breastfeeding is fine. In other cases like HIV it should be avoided altogether. 

Additionally, caution should be exercised with conditions like syphilis and herpes. Although they are typically not passed through breast milk, they can cause sores. If the child’s mouth or pumping equipment comes in contact with an active sore, the infection can be passed on. 

Can you be born with an STI?

Yes. If untreated, some STIs can be passed on to the child during delivery. When and how the infection is passed depends on the specific STI, therefore any active STIs during pregnancy should be addressed quickly, to minimize the possibility of harm it could cause to the child.

Can You give birth naturally with genital herpes?

Yes. If you do not have any active sores before and during delivery you can give birth naturally even with genital herpes. Many healthcare providers will recommend an antiviral treatment in the weeks before delivery, to reduce the likelihood of an outbreak.