Yes, it is possible to pass an STD to your child during pregnancy and birth.
Also, some STDs are asymptomatic, which means that you may not know you even have an STD.
That’s why frequent testing is essential, whether you think you might be pregnant or have been sexually active with more than one partner.
STDs Impact on Pregnancy
There are several sexually transmitted diseases(STDs) and sexually transmitted infections(STIs) that can be passed to your baby or create complications during pregnancy, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, syphilis, and HIV.
Depending on the STD/STI, the impact can vary, including:
- 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.
That’s why early testing and diagnosis are an important step, as they allow your doctor to develop a plan to monitor your health and be alert for potential complications and risks.
These complications during pregnancy and birth can include:
- Miscarriage
- Preterm birth
- Premature rupture of membranes (your water breaks before being full-term)
- Low birth weight
- Eye infections (i.e., pink eye)
- Heart, skin, and joint issues
Treatment Options
While the impact of an STD/STI on your pregnancy and baby can feel scary, there are treatment options available, which is why early detection is so important.
For example, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis can be treated with antibiotics during pregnancy.
Even in cases where HIV or herpes is present, antiviral medications can be used to decrease the risk of passing the infection to the child.
Get the Help You Need
If you think you are pregnant and worried you could have an STD/STI, Palm Beach Women’s Clinic is here to help you.
Our clinics can provide both pregnancy test confirmation and STD/STI testing, as well as a follow-up ultrasound scan if you are pregnant, all at no cost to you.
The trained medical staff at our clinics can also review the results of your STD/STI testing with you and discuss treatment plans, as well as methods to prevent infections in the future.
Contact us today for your free and confidential appointment.