Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are very serious, posing a threat to both mother and child. It is important to treat sexually transmitted diseases, however, improper treatment during pregnancy could result in your passing on the STD and serious complications in your pregnancy.
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A woman who is pregnant and has gonorrhea has increased risk of miscarriage, premature labor, and stillbirth. During birth it is possible to pass the infection to the infant. If this happens, gonorrhea can lead to blindness, septic arthritis, meningitis and possibly life threatening pneumonia.
Treatments for gonorrhea are possible during pregnancy, and often consist of one dose. However, some treatments are not safe during pregnancy.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
The biggest risk HIV poses to an infant is the mother passing on the virus at birth. Twenty five percent of infants born to infected mothers contract HIV. The use of antiviral drugs, having a cesarean section birth and not breastfeeding are ways to lower the risk of passing HIV on to your child. While some HIV treatment drugs are safe to take during pregnancy, many cause serious birth defects and fatalities. Please visit AIDSmeds.com to learn more about specific drugs, their effects, and alternative treatments during pregnancy.
Treatment and testing of infants with HIV-positive mothers is common and necessary. Infants are tested at birth, treated for six weeks, and then tested again. Further treatment depends on whether or not your baby is infected.
While few women with herpes experience problems with their pregnancy, it does increase her chances of having a miscarriage, premature birth, and complications during pregnancy. Women who contract herpes during the last trimester of pregnancy or have an outbreak during birth are the most likely to experience complications. If the mother contracts herpes before the last trimester, the fetus receives some of the antibodies the mother's body makes to fight off infection. The passing on of antibodies, however, is not a guarantee that the infant will not be infected.
Typical herpes treatment are generally not safe to use during pregnancy, but antiviral acyclovir is sometimes used, even though it is not approved by the FDA for use during pregnancy.
Syphilis poses a big threat to both mother and child, especially if left untreated. It can be passed to the infant during pregnancy and during either vaginal or cesarean section birth. Mothers with syphilis have increased chances of stillbirth and miscarriages. Oftentimes, infants who contracted syphilis will have no visible symptoms for up to eight months after birth. When symptoms do occur, they include jaundice, skin rashes and sores, bloody and runny nose, weakened or horse cry, slimy spots on the mouth, and/or swollen arms and legs. Infected infants may also suffer from pneumonia or anemia early in life.
If syphilis remains untreated, the infant will experience severe damage to the bones, teeth, vision, hearing, and mental development. Delayed mental and physical development, as well as seizures, are possible effects of untreated syphilis in infants..
The good news is that a single penicillin, or another antibiotic, injection before the fourth month of pregnancy generally keeps syphilis from spreading to the infant. After the fourth month of pregnancy, treatment is important but not as effective. Following birth, the infant will be tested and treated for syphilis.
Chlamydia may cause miscarriage, premature birth, attributed to Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes (PPROM), a rupture in the uterine membranes, and low birth weight. It can also be passed to the infant during pregnancy or birth. If the fetus contracts chlamydia during the pregnancy, it may develop infections in th genitals, lungs, ears, and eyes. Infants may also contract pneumonia. Though the time that symptoms occur varies, treatment in infants is linked to positive outcomes.
Once the mother knows she is pregnant it is crucial she be tested for chlamydia. The earlier the disease is found, the better the chances of not passing it on to the infant are. Treatment with one of two antibiotics are safe options during pregnancy. Furthermore, infants born with chlamydia are often successfully treated.
Genital warts are caused by different strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV) and generally do not pose many threats to the fetus during pregnancy and birth. Genital warts pose a bigger problem for the mother than the child. During pregnancy, since the immune system is naturally suppressed, genital warts may become larger, making it difficult to urinate or have a vaginal birth. Unfortunately, cesarean section births do not prove to reduce the risk of passing on genital warts to the infant. Infants may contract a rare, but serious, form of HPV that results in sores on the throat.
It is possible to treat genital warts during pregnancy, but many treatments are not suitable during pregnancy.
Trichomoniasis may cause premature birth, sometime attributed to PPROM, stillbirth, and low birth weight. While it is rare for an infant to contract trichomoniasis, the infant can successfully be treated with antibiotics in that case.
Usually treatment of trichomoniasis is only treated if the symptoms are bothersome. Alternative treatments that are safe to use during pregnancy exist, but some treatments are not safe to use during pregnancy. For instance, several studies show that use of metronidazole may increase the chances of premature birth.
Left untreated, Hepatitis B posed big problems for both mother and child. Hepatitis B can be passed to the infant during pregnancy or birth. The majority of infant who are not vaccinated, which occurs after birth, will contract Hepatitis B and can infect others. The symptoms of Hepatitis B may take years to manifest in the form of jaundice, joint pain, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite. The liver will swell and may become liver disease or cancer.
Additionally, breastfeeding does not increase the chances of an infant contracting Hepatitis B from an infected mother, unless there are sores and cracks on the nipple.
References:
(2001). FDA. Zovirax. September 30, 2007, http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2001/18604s18lbl.pdf
(2006). Which Anti-HIV Drugs are Recommended for Pregnant Women. September 30, 2007, http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/Pregnancy_4907.shtml
Morgan, Jane. (2006). Genital Warts. September 30, 2007, http://dermnetnz.org/viral/genital-warts.html
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Pregnancy. September 30, 2007, http://www.pregnancy-info.net/stds_pregnancy.html
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