STIs While Pregnant

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common, occurring in one out of every five sexually active people. Most STIs are manageable with the help of medications, but they have to be treated in good time to avoid their spread. When a person is pregnant and they have an STI, they must seek treatment right away, as their unborn child is vulnerable and could contract the infection during birth. 

If one has a partner, both the partner and a healthcare provider should be aware of the STI so that the appropriate treatment can be administered. In general, STIs have the potential of putting an unborn child at risk of acquiring the infection. As such, it is necessary that someone get the right treatment as soon as they test positive for an STI. In this way, the disease is managed, and contained. 

What Are STIs?

STIs are bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. In  the case of unborn children, STIs are typically contracted while they are still in the womb, or as they are being born. The more common STIs are syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. They are bacterial in nature and their typical course of treatment is using antibiotics. In the case of human papillomavirus (HPV), genital herpes simplex, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the treatment is not as straightforward, as they are viral in nature. 

How Are STIs Diagnosed While Pregnant?

In order for an STI to be diagnosed, a medical practitioner will run either urine or blood tests, or both. When a person is pregnant, the practise is to conduct a test for STIs as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed. This is a specific test that covers the more common STIs. Doing the STI test early allows healthcare practitioners to deliver treatment in time. STIs are diagnosed using urine and blood tests. If a person is diagnosed with any STI when they are pregnant, it is recommended that they get retested during the pregnancy in order to ensure that the infection is under control, particularly in the period leading up to delivery. 

What Are the Symptoms of STIs?

STIs each have their own specific symptoms, but they manifest differently from case to case. Below are some of the general symptoms of STIs:

Symptoms of Chlamydia

• Abnormal discharge from the vagina or penis
• Pain in the vagina, anus, or testicles
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Lower back or abdominal pain
• Fever

Symptoms of Syphilis

• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Sore throat
• Sudden baldness
• Weight loss
• A rash on the body that does not irritate

Symptoms of Gonorrhea

• Heavy periods
• Bleeding between periods
• Burning sensation or pain when urinating
• Pain when making bowel movements
• Itchy sensation around the anus
• A discharge from the vagina, penis, or anus that is cloudy or bloody

Symptoms of Trichomoniasis

• Pain when having sex or urinating
• Soreness, itching or burning sensation on the vagina or penis
• A discharge that is clear white or greenish-yellow coming from the penis or vagina
• An unpleasant pungent (“fishy”) odor coming from the vagina

Symptoms of HIV

• Fever
• Headaches
• Chills and night sweats
• Ulcers or rashes on the mouth
• Sore throat
• Fatigue

Symptoms of Genital Herpes

• Small, open sores on the genitals or anus
• Pain and itching around the genitalia and rectum
• An abnormal vaginal discharge

Symptoms of HPV

• Small warts that could be around or on the genitals - sometimes with a cauliflower-like appearance
• Discomfort and itching around the genitals
• Bleeding during sexual intercourse

Hepatitis

• Nausea, vomiting and upset stomach
• Pain under the ribs on the right side of the body
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Dark urine or clay-colored stool
• Yellow, jaundiced skin

STI Treatment While Pregnant

STIs have a standard treatment protocol that is used whether a person is pregnant or not. If a person has an STI when they are pregnant, the antibiotics used will be safe enough not to have a negative impact on the fetus. The medications used are also prescribed in consideration of how far along a pregnancy is. In this way, the STI can be effectively treated without harming the unborn child.  

Risk of STIs to the Baby, While Pregnant

If a pregnant person has either gonorrhoea or chlamydia the risk of passing the infection to the child is during natural childbirth. If they have syphilis, the risk here is that the infection can pass through the placenta affecting the baby while it is developing. Immediate medical attention is necessary to prevent the infection from passing, not only to the baby, but to others as well.  

Similar to chlamydia and gonorrhoea, herpes is also passed on to the child during natural childbirth. Herpes is typically treated using suppressive antiviral therapy, but if active sores are still present by the time a pregnant person goes into labor, then having a c-section, rather than delivering naturally is the safer option. ends to be passed on to the baby during natural childbirth. In order to have a safe delivery.

Considering how severe HIV is, typically a pregnant person will take antiretroviral medication throughout pregnancy and even beyond. Studies have shown that in the majority of the cases, antivirals have reduced the risk of infection substantially up to below one percent. This means that a child born under these circumstances is essentially free of infection.

Preventing STIs While Pregnant

While most STIs can be prevented by using condoms, abstaining from sex is the most effective. However, it is not necessarily practical. Therefore, a person or couple ought to take precautions to ensure that they are safe from reinfection, as well, that they do not infect others. The spread of infections such as HPV may be more challenging to control because the virus may spread through the parts of skin that are not covered by a condom. If a person or couple are monogamous, there is a low risk of contracting entirely new STIs, but frequent testing is important to lower the risk of exposure to the unborn child.   

In Summary

It is possible for someone to have an STI while they are pregnant, and still give birth to a healthy baby, if the infection is effectively treated early enough. Due to their nature of transmission, it is important that one openly and honestly communicates with their sexual partner as well as healthcare provider, in order to manage the spread of the infection.  Apart from early testing and treatment, special provisions can be made to ensure a safe delivery. 

The combination of STIs and pregnancy can make one vulnerable, therefore if you do have any other concerns about STIs with regards to family planning, contact us. We offer expert services with compassionate care for each unique circumstance.