The risk of transmitting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) to your child depends on various factors, including the type of STI and the treatments available to you.
The first step is to get tested, which you can do at Oasis Medical. Many women avoid regular testing because they don’t have symptoms, which happens with many STIs. We provide free of charge STI testing for women. Set up an appointment today.
Keep reading to learn more about how an STI will affect your pregnancy.
Type of STIs
Some sexually transmitted infections can be transmitted during pregnancy, while others may be passed to the child during the birthing process as the baby moves through the birth canal.
STIs may lead to serious issues, so it’s wise to undergo testing and seek appropriate treatment.
Bacterial STIs
Bacterial STIs, like gonorrhea and chlamydia, are caused by bacterial infections but can be cured. Antibiotics are used and considered safe for use during pregnancy while being effective in clearing the infection.
Identifying and treating these infections early in pregnancy is crucial to avoid complications. Untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to premature birth, low birth weight, and the risk of passing the infection to the baby during delivery, which can cause eye infections or pneumonia in newborns.
Viral STIs
Viruses cause these STIs. While they cannot be cured, they can be managed.
Medical professionals treat pregnant individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART reduces the amount of virus in the body to very low levels, which helps maintain the parent’s health and significantly reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to the baby during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding.
For genital herpes, antiviral medications can be used during pregnancy. These medications can help manage outbreaks. In cases where there are genital herpes lesions at the time of delivery, a cesarean section may be recommended to prevent transmission to the baby.
Parasidic STI
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. The standard treatment for trichomoniasis, including in pregnant individuals, is an antibiotic.
Trichomoniasis can be effectively treated and cured during pregnancy.
Will I Pass My STI to My Child?
If you are pregnant and have an STI, there’s a chance you can spread it to your child. However, as highlighted above, you can take measures to avoid transmitting during pregnancy. It all depends on how quickly you can receive treatment.
Where Can I Start?
Your first line of defense is testing and treatment. Get free and confidential STI testing at Oasis Medical. We can test for gonorrhea, chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, HIV, and syphilis.
We also offer free pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, and resources to give you more knowledge about your pregnancy. Contact us to talk to our compassionate staff to get started.