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Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Think you're protected from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? If you're pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, you should know all the facts about STDs - for example, pregnancy doesn't protect you from getting an STD. In fact, the consequences of an STD are even more serious if you become infected during pregnancy. Take steps to protect yourself and your baby now by reading the information below. Then discuss your questions and concerns with your physician.
Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
The fact is that STDs contracted during pregnancy can be life threatening. All women need to be aware of the potential consequences of sexually transmitted diseases, even before they are pregnant, so they can learn how to protect themselves and future children against STD infection.
Introduction
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are relatively common during pregnancy. Education, screening, treatment, and prevention are important components of prenatal care for women at increased risk for these infections (Piper and colleagues, 2003). As a part of routine prenatal care, common STDs that are often sought include syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and human papillomavirus infections (HPV) (Schrag and associates, 2003). The recommended treatment protocols adhere to the intensive and frequently updated schedules provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2002d). Treatment of most STDs is clearly associated with improved pregnancy outcome and prevention of perinatal mortality (Goldenberg and Thompson, 2003; Gray and colleagues, 2001).
How can I find out if I have any STIs?
Because it's so important to spot and treat STIs during pregnancy, your practitioner will screen for many of these infections during your first prenatal visit. (Be sure to let her know about any STIs you've had in the past, too, or if you or your mate has more than one sexual partner.) If you're at high risk for STIs, you'll be screened again in your third trimester - or sooner, if you develop any STI symptoms during your pregnancy.
If your practitioner doesn't routinely offer tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis, be sure to ask for them. Even if you're not in a high-risk relationship now, some STIs can lurk in your body for years without symptoms, so you want to be sure you didn't unknowingly contract one in the past.
And if there's any chance that you've been exposed to an STI during your pregnancy, or if you or your partner has any unusual symptoms, let your practitioner know right away so you can be retested. If you do have an STI, you'll want to learn all you can about the risks and treatment options.
Hypertensive States of Pregnancy
Hypertensive states in pregnancy include preeclampsia-eclampsia, chronic hypertension (either essential or secondary to renal disease, endocrine disease, or other causes), chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension ...
How can I avoid getting an STI?
The only sure way to avoid getting an STI is to abstain from sex completely (including vaginal, oral, and anal sex), or to have sex only with a partner you're absolutely sure has sex only with you, doesn't use intravenous drugs, and has a clean bill of health. If you're not in that situation, here's what you need to do:
- Don't have sex with anyone who has sores or symptoms of an STI, including a partner you believe to be faithful. If your partner has sex with other people, be sure to use latex condoms every time you have sex. These will reduce the risk of transmission of most STIs.
- With a few exceptions, if you're being treated for an STI, your partner also needs to be treated, and you should not have sex until you've both completed treatment and are symptom-free. Otherwise, you'll just keep passing the infection back and forth.
- If you're at high risk for STIs, or if your partner or any member of your household is a hepatitis B carrier, be sure to get vaccinated against hepatitis B. This vaccine is safe to get during pregnancy.
Consequences and Complications
Approximately two million pregnant women are affected by sexually transmitted diseases or STDs during each year in the United States. Pregnancy offers no protection against sexually transmitted diseases leaving pregnant women vulnerable to the same STDs as women who are not pregnant. Sexually transmitted diseases can cause devastating consequences women who are not pregnant; the consequences of sexually transmitted diseases can be significantly more dangerous for pregnant women.
The fact is that STDs contracted during pregnancy can be life threatening. All women need to be aware of the potential consequences of sexually transmitted diseases, even before they are pregnant, so they can learn how to protect themselves and future children against STD infection.
Although the consequences of sexually transmitted diseases for pregnant women can be the same as for non-pregnant women; these consequences may have devastating effects that can lead to:
- cervical cancer and other cancers,
- chronic hepatitis,
- cirrhosis,
- other complications.
Sadly, there are often no symptoms in women with sexually transmitted diseases and a woman may not be aware she is infected until she is already pregnant.
Inflammatory diseases of small pelvis organs Most popular sexually transmitted diseases, - are clamidiosis and gonorrhoea. These infections can be very serious and become a reason of inflammatory diseases of pelvis organs, such as adnexitis. These diseases are very serious, as infection comes from external sexual organs and cervix of the uterus and affects Fallopian tubes and ovaries. As a result of inflammatory process, commissures are formed on tubes, embolism of tubes is also possible, what can lead to sterility. Moreover, this infection may contribute to development of abdominal pregnancy.
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