Yes, it is possible to pass an STD to your child during pregnancy and birth. What’s more, not only can an STD have a long-term health impact on a child, but it can also impact the health of your pregnancy.
While this may sound scary, early detection and treatment of an STD while pregnant can improve both the health of your pregnancy and baby and decrease the chance of complications and long-term impacts.
Keep reading to learn more about how STDs can impact your pregnancy and what treatments are available. You can also review our STD testing services here and make an appointment.
STDs and Impact on Pregnancy
Sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections are often commonly referred to as STDs.
Some STDs can show symptoms like swelling or itching of your genitals, pain during sex or urination, or foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
However, other STDs can be asymptomatic, meaning that you may not be aware of their presence. Regular testing is important, especially if you have a new partner.
STDs can be passed to your baby in different ways. Examples of this include:
- Syphilis can be passed through the placenta to the baby during pregnancy.
- Gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and genital herpes can infect the baby during vaginal delivery.
- HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) can be passed through the placenta during pregnancy and passed to the baby during delivery.
The impact of an STD on your baby can include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Low birth weight
- Eye infection
- Pneumonia
- Blood infection
- Brain damage
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Liver disease
- Stillbirth
Treatment of STDs in Pregnancy
While the presence of an STD during your pregnancy can make you nervous, early testing and detection are crucial to maximizing treatment options and improving the health of you and your baby.
The treatments available depend on the type of STD. For example, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are STDs that are often treated with antibiotics during pregnancy.
Other STDs, like HIV or herpes, can’t be cured with medication, but the administration of antiviral medications early enough in pregnancy can decrease the risk of passing the infection to your child.
Get the Help You Need
If you suspect you have an STD or have been sexually active with a new or more than one partner, then it is essential to get tested as soon as possible.
Wellspring Pregnancy and Health Center provides free testing for both STDs and STIs.
Our staff can also review your results with you and discuss next steps and treatment options.
Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential appointment.
