STDs can be passed to your child during pregnancy or birth, and they not only may impact the health of your pregnancy but can also lead to serious health effects for you and your child.
While this may feel scary and overwhelming, the good news is that if you have an STD, there is treatment and management that can improve pregnancy outcomes.
Continue reading to learn more about STDs, their health effects, and how to seek treatment.
What is An STD?
An STD (sexually transmitted disease) is a bacteria, virus, or parasite that is spread through bodily fluids like blood, urine, semen, or saliva. They can cause a variety of symptoms or no symptoms at all, so it is important to be tested regularly if you are sexually active.
Some of the most common symptoms of STDs include:
- Bumps or sores on your vagina, anus, or mouth
- Swelling or itching around your vagina or mouth
- Vaginal discharge that has a foul-odor or different color than usual
- Vaginal bleeding that is not your period
- Pain with sex
- Pain with urination
How Does An STD Impact My Pregnancy and Child?
STDs can cause a variety of complications in pregnancy, like premature labor or an infection of the uterus.
Depending on the STD, they may impact the pregnancy in different ways:
- 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
If a baby is infected with an STD, the health effects can include but are not limited to:
- Low birth weight
- Eye infection
- Pneumonia
- Blood infection
- Brain damage
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Liver disease
- Stillbirth
Seeking Treatment
For the sake of your health and the health of your pregnancy, if you think you may have an STD, the first step is to be tested and seek treatment.
STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis can be treated with antibiotics during pregnancy. While HIV or herpes cannot be cured with medication, antiviral medications can decrease the risk of passing the infection to the child.
Get the Help You Need
If you’re pregnant and have an STD or think you might have an STD, Chester County Connect Care is here to help.
If necessary, we can help you seek treatment and provide you with resources to support you during your pregnancy.
Contact us today for your confidential appointment.