STDs While Pregnant

When it comes to having unprotected sex, most people fear getting pregnant. But when one is already pregnant many believe that you can have unprotected sex pregnancy. Engaging in sex during pregnancy can lead to sexually transmitted diseases or infections as pregnancy doesn’t protect against STIs. 

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affect millions of people every day, and some STDs are more harmful to pregnant mothers and their babies. 

Key Takeaways

• You can have sex when pregnant.
• With proper treatment and open communication with your sexual partners, it’s entirely possible to have a healthy, happy pregnancy and fulfilling sex life despite a positive STI test.
• Sexually transmitted infections are extremely common, affecting millions of people in the United States every day.
• Certain STIs can be passed to a baby during childbirth, and it’s extremely important to seek immediate treatment for an STI while pregnant to reduce the risk of harming the child.

What is an STD?

A sexually transmitted disease or STD is an infection that spreads mainly by sexual contact. These infections are passed from one person to another primarily through coming in contact with bodily fluids like blood, saliva, and genital fluids during sex. STDs can also be passed down from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth. 

According to the CDC, there are approximately 68 million active STDs in America alone at any given time, most of them being bacterial STDS. While bacterial STDs can be treated with antibiotics but viral STDs have no cure, making them difficult, though manageable to treat.

How Are STDs Diagnosed While Pregnant?

Pregnant women, particularly those who are sexually active should regularly get tested to prevent any complications that may arise during pregnancy and childbirth. The test is usually conducted by a healthcare provider like Dallas IVF, and a blood or urine sample is taken to check if there are any risks for the mother and baby. 

Global treatment guidelines recommend that pregnant women must be screened for:

• Syphilis
• Gonorrhea
• Chlamydia
• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• HPV

Even if your healthcare provider doesn’t perform these tests, you should still request them. Additionally, even if you’ve done the test before, you should make sure to do the tests when you're pregnant. 

Risk factors for STDs  during pregnancy

Certain factors increase your chances of getting an STD.

• Having unprotected sex. 
• Having sexual contact with many partners. 
• A history of STDs. 
• Misuse of alcohol or recreational drugs, especially injected drugs.

Symptoms of STDs

According to the WHO, there are 8 pathogens linked to STIs. 4  of these pathogens are currently curable while the other 4 are viral infections. Different STDs present differently in each individual. Let’s take a look at common STDs in pregnancy. 

Bacterial STDs

There are four main STDs that are curable- syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. It first appears as a painless sore on the genitals, rectum, or mouth and then it spreads after contact with the sores. Syphilis can be dangerous in pregnancy and childbirth because it can be passed from mother to baby.

This STD can stay in the body for many years without showing any symptoms but can become worse without treatment, damaging the heart, brain, or other organs. Symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Rash anywhere on the body, typically without any itching
• Weight loss
• Sudden baldness
• Headaches
• Swollen lymph nodes

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea, or The Clap, is a bacterial infection that also rarely shows symptoms, especially in women. Symptoms include:

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

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common bacterial STD with symptoms that can go unnoticed. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications and cause permanent damage to your reproductive organs. Symptoms include:

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

Trichomoniasis

Also known as trich, Trichomoniasis is an STD caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Symptoms can include:

• Itching, burning, or soreness of the genitals
• Pain or burning when peeing or ejaculating
• Smelly (clear, white, gray, yellow, or green) vaginal discharge
• Discomfort during sex
• Swelling in the groin
• Frequent urination

Viral STDs

There are 4 main viral infections: hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV), HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV)

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a viral infection that has three main types -A, B, and C. It may be asymptomatic but can hurt your unborn baby or affect your pregnancy if left untreated. In serious cases, it can damage your liver. Symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Dark urine or clay-colored stool
• Jaundice or yellow skin
• Pain near the liver, under the ribs on the right side of the body

Herpes Simplex Virus

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) or herpes, is a common infection that spreads by skin-to-skin contact. It is treatable but not curable. There are two types of herpes simplex virus.

• Type 1 (HSV-1): This mostly spreads by oral contact and results in infections of the mouth presenting as oral herpes or cold sores. 
• Type 2 (HSV-2). This type spreads through sexual contact and causes genital herpes.

Symptoms include:

• Painful, recurring blisters or ulcers.
• Fever
• Body aches
• Swollen lymph nodes.
• Tingling, itching, or burning near the sores. 
• Sore throat (oral herpes)
• Headaches

HIV

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks white blood cells, especially the CD4 cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex (sex without a condom or HIV medicine to prevent or treat HIV), or through sharing injection drug equipment.

If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

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

HPV

HPV or human papillomavirus is a viral infection that commonly presents with growths or warts. Some types of human papillomavirus infection can cause different types of cancer like cervical cancer, Cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva, and back of the throat (oropharyngeal), which have been linked to HPV infection. Symptoms include:

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

Vaccines can help protect against the strains of HPV most likely to cause genital warts or cervical cancer.

Can I Pass The STD to the Baby?

Yes, you can pass an STD to the baby during pregnancy or childbirth. This is why you must seek treatment immediately anytime you find out you have an STD. This will reduce the risk of spreading the infection because if left untreated, it can increase the risk of birth defects or congenital disabilities.

Additionally, the National Institute of Health, states that the right antiviral medication during pregnancy can reduce the risk of passing HIV to the child. Women with active genital herpes lesions may require a cesarean section during delivery to avoid infecting the newborn.

The Bottom Line

Sexually transmitted diseases or STDs are common. During pregnancy, if you feel uncomfortable burning or itching around your genitals or other signs of a possible STD, talk to a healthcare provider. They may prescribe antibiotics if the infection is bacterial. STDs can affect pregnant mothers more than others and can pass from the mother to the fetus, harming either or both if left undiagnosed and untreated.