subject: How STDs Affect Pregnant Women and Their Babies [print this page] How STDs Affect Pregnant Women and Their Babies
Since pregnant women have little or no protection against STDs, it makes them more vulnerable to infections than women who are not pregnant. Terrifying consequences of this infection bring harm not only to the mothers but also to the developing fetus inside the womb.
STDs contracted during pregnancy or childbirth poses more threats than any other time. It is better that women should asses their level of protection against infections, have access to STD information, and know the potential effects of sexually transmitted diseases to protect themselves and their babies even before the onset of pregnancy to ensure that the risks involved do not escalate even though the effects are the same on non-pregnant women. Complications such as cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, cervical cancer, and other types of cancer are consequences that arise from the overwhelming effects of STDs.
Unfortunately, some sexually transmitted diseases do not have any symptoms and that they could go undetected until the first signs of complications arises or that women become pregnant. Some of the complications that might arise as a result of sexually transmitted diseases during pregnancy may include uterine infections after delivery, premature rupture seen in the uterine membranes which would surround the fetus, and early onset of labor. Moreover, mothers can transfer sexually transmitted diseases to the developing fetus inside their womb before, during, and even after childbirth.
STDs such as syphilis is known to cross through the placenta and infect the fetus which can potentially affect fetal development. In addition to that, sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, genital herpes, hepatitis B, and chlamydia can be transferred to the victim's infant the moment of the vaginal delivery. Female HIV patients can also transmit the virus that causes AIDS to their babies through childbirth or through breastfeeding.
Some of the effects of STDs to babies are cirrhosis, deafness, blindness, acute hepatitis, meningitis, chronic liver disease or other health abnormalities that are congenital, some damage regarding the neurologic like brain damage or motor function disorder, a blood infection that's called neonatal sepsis, an eye infection called conjunctivitis, pneumonia, low birth weight, and worst still birth which could lead to long-term damaging consequences to the overall health of the child.
The apparent consequences of the infection or transmission of STD from parent to child may not be immediately detected right after childbirth and may take months or even years before the symptoms manifests itself.
Fortunately, women who are infected by some bacterial STDs during pregnancy can now readily avail of medications or prescription antibiotics that treat or cure bacterial STDs such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, and syphilis. However, viral types of STD such as herpes or HIV currently have no cure but there are procedures that treat and manage the symptoms during pregnancy to ease discomfort.
These treatments can significantly reduce the risk of transmitting the virus from the mother to the child. To further lessen the risks involved, a cesarean section (C-section) is often recommended to protect the newborn from possible infections especially when the mother has an active genital herpes at the time of delivery.
STD Infections - This is an article that discusses the risks that STD infections brings to women especially those who wants to get pregnant or are already pregnant.
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