Syphilis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment
STI During Pregnancy: Symptoms, Treatment And Prevention - Onlymyhealth
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), as the name suggests, are infections which are spread by sexual contact amongst sexually active people. They are commonly seen in general population, but not so frequently during pregnancy. STI are caused by microorganisms like bacteria, parasites and viruses. While most of the infections caused by bacteria and parasites can be cured, the infections caused due to viruses are difficult to be treated. These organisms can pass through body fluids like semen, blood or genital secretions. Common STI found are gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, hepatitis B and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV). In this article, Dr. Sunitha Mahesh, Medical Director & Senior Consultant- Feto Maternal Medicine, Milann Fertility & Birthing Hospital, JP Nagar, Bangalore explains about the risk of STI during pregnancy and how it can be prevented to secure health of mother, father and also the unborn baby who can potentially carry the infection and be born with it.
STI and PregnancySTI symptoms in women may not exhibit any warning symptoms or the woman may not feel sick as a result of this infection. This is something to worry about as without symptoms, it becomes difficult to find out about this problem that can escalate to their partners. They might not even be aware of it until they or their partner face complications.
Also Read: 5 Facts All Men Should Know About Sexual Health Problems
Sexually transmitted infections in women can cause a long-term impact on woman's health. Besides, this can also increase the risk of transmission of the same to the partner and the baby. Here are some complications that a woman may have to suffer if diagnosed with STI.
Also Read: Follow These 9 Hygeine Practices For Healthy Sexual And Reproductive Health
There are various hygienic sex practices one can adopt in order to stay away from STI, especially during pregnancy. Using condoms during penetrative sex or dental dams during oral sex can help avoid STI. Having more than one sexual partner is a major reason for STI, and avoiding multiple sex partners can help prevent STI to a large extent. One can also say safe by not having sex with a partner who can potentially be infected. There are vaccinations available for STI like Hepatitis B, HPV, etc. Getting vaccinated for such diseases can also prevent infections.
Summing UpIt is possible for women with STI to have a safe pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby. If diagnosed with an STI during pregnancy, treating and managing it well can reduce the risk, but if left untreated it can cause serious health issues to mother as well as child. Be safe and follow precautions as advised.
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STD And Pregnancy: Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatment
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20% of adults in the United States have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) on any given day of the year.
It's probably not a surprise that some of those people with an STI are also pregnant. If you are one of these people, you may wonder what this means for your pregnancy and baby.
If you believe you may have an STI, talk with a healthcare professional and seek testing. Here's some information that may help you feel better prepared to have that talk.
STIs are infections transmitted through sexual activity. STIs can be transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sexual contact.
Some examples of common STIs include:
Yes, you can get STIs if you are pregnant.
Being pregnant does not offer any additional layers of protection against STIs.
In fact, if you stop using a barrier method of birth control, like condoms, during sex because you're already pregnant, you may increase your risk of getting an STI.
A doctor or other healthcare professional will likely perform a full STI panel at the beginning of your pregnancy whether you have symptoms or not.
The CDC recommends STI screening early in pregnancy and that healthcare professionals repeat STI testing closer to delivery if needed.
If you have symptoms of an STI or are concerned you may have potentially contracted an STI during your pregnancy, you can also be tested again at that point. You can be tested for an STI at any point during your pregnancy.
Symptoms of an STI can include:
Many of these symptoms may be associated with pregnancy in general, so it can be hard to tell what is causing what.
Additionally, many STIs are "silent." This means you may not be able to tell that you have an STI based on symptoms alone.
For these reasons, it's important to screen for STIs if it's possible you have one and are pregnant.
Treatment depends on what's causing the STI: bacteria or a virus.
Antibiotics can treat bacterial STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics that are safe to take during pregnancy.
STIs like genital herpes, hepatitis B, or HIV are caused by viruses. While viral STIs have no cure, antiviral medications can manage symptoms and reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to your baby.
You may need to alter your birthing plan or method of delivery to help prevent STI transmission to your baby.
If you receive an STI diagnosis during pregnancy:
If you have an STI during pregnancy, potential risks to the baby include:
One of the more serious risks is that some STIs can be transmitted to the baby during pregnancy and the birthing process. For example, people with active genital herpes can potentially transmit the infection to their baby as they travel through the birth canal.
To reduce the risk of STIs during pregnancy, you can:
Early detection and treatment of STIs during pregnancy are essential.
Left untreated, some STIs can be life threatening to you or your baby. Treatment is also key to reducing the likelihood of transmitting an STI to your baby during pregnancy or birth.
Many bacterial STIs can be treated with medications that are safe to take during pregnancy. In other cases, the use of antiviral medications may help reduce the risk of transmission to your baby.
Can I breastfeed my baby if I have an STI?
Maybe. It will depend on the STI you have and any medications you are taking to treat it.
It's not generally recommended to breastfeed if you have HIV or sores on your breasts from syphilis or herpes.
If you have an STI, discuss nursing your baby with your doctor before delivery.
Can I give birth vaginally if I have genital herpes?
Maybe. People with an active herpes outbreak are typically encouraged to have a cesarean delivery to prevent the baby from coming in contact with the virus in the birth canal.
If you are not having an active outbreak, the risk of transmission is very low, and you can generally give birth vaginally unless there are other complications.
If I have HIV, will I transmit it to my baby?
Antiviral medications can lower the risk of transmitting HIV to your baby to less than 1%. If your HIV viral load is high, your doctor may suggest having a cesarean delivery to reduce the risk of HIV transmission during delivery.
In areas with clean water, using formula instead of breastfeeding is encouraged to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to the baby as well.
Many STIs can be treated or managed during pregnancy, but some can have serious effects for you and your baby. For this reason, it's a good idea to use barrier methods each time you have sex, even if you're pregnant.
Your doctor may request an STI panel at the beginning of your pregnancy because some STIs do not have visible symptoms.
It's important to tell your doctor any time you believe there's a chance you have contracted an STI during pregnancy.
Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections During A Pregnancy
Sexually transmitted infections can cause devastating complications during a pregnancy. If left untreated an STI can have serious long-term health effects on expecting parents, and the developing baby.
Aspirus St. Luke's recently received $275,000 through a state grant from the Minnesota Department of Health. They hired Anna Fuhs, an STI Prevention Specialist to help reduce infant mortality rates caused by STIs.
According to a 2021 report from MN Department of Health, more than 300 infants died before their first birthday. Fuhs says Syphilis passed onto babies from the mother during child birth has been on the rise in recent years, along with other STIs.
"So the number one and two most reported sexually transmitted infections in Minnesota are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Both of those infections can have significant reproductive harm for females. They can also lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes."
Health experts recommend expecting parents on their pregnancy journey to seek routine prenatal care checkups. These appointments help see if the mother and the baby are healthy throughout the pregnancy.
"The highest risk categories of people who are most likely to have infections is younger people, childbearing age people. So anybody childbearing age, pregnant, wanting to get pregnant, we just tell them routine screening is very important because you might not be aware that you have an infection."
Fuhs says the most common sexually transmitted infections don't have any symptoms. People probably don't realize that they have an STI until they get a positive test result back. She says expecting parents should have three STI screenings during a pregnancy. Also people in general should have an annual health screening with their partner.
"We just recommend anybody who is pregnant or wanting to get pregnant to just call your provider and come in for prenatal care as soon as possible. Most STIs are very treatable. So as long as you're coming in and you're getting your routine screening, we can give you medications and treat most things."
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