16 Aug 2023 |

Preparing for Different STDs – Enjoy a Safe Pregnancy

Are you planning to start your family? If yes, then you need to understand the risks of complications caused with STDs during pregnancy. This blogpost outlines STDs that may cause harm to your child and necessary steps to take for safe pregnancy. There are some STDs like HIV that may spread to the baby during pregnancy or birth, and lead to health concerns for the newborn. It is possible to identify as well as treat different STDs in order to lessen the risk of further transmission and more complications.

Should you test for STDs before pregnancy?

Yes, you need to get checked for STDs before pregnancy. There are STIs which lead to certain complications during pregnancy, especially when necessary precautions are not taken to lessen the transmission. Such complications are the following:

• Low birth weight
• Miscarriage
• Transmission of infection
• Preterm labor

When you conduct a test before conceiving, you will be able to discard hidden infections and get necessary treatment for any infections detected. Once you are aware about the STDs you may carry, the gynae advises on the safest steps to take for lower risk pregnancy and delivery.

Reasons to conduct an STD test before your pregnancy

STD screening before pregnancy will protect your and your partner’s health as well as your baby. There are other benefits too which include:

• Effective treatment when it is taken early
• Complete peace of mind in your pregnancy
• Fertility and general health protection
• Improve trust factor between you and your partner

You and your partner can go for full screening to lessen the chance of symptomless STDs being spread.

Should you conduct STD screening before the IVF treatment?

If you want to protect yourself and your baby from serious complications, then the gynaecologist will ask to conduct STD test before starting your journey. Different STD tests ensure there is nothing that can prevent IVF treatment from becoming successful. The IVF treatment requires you and your partner to test for common STIs such as – gonorrhoea, HIV, hepatitis B and C and chlamydia.

Can you struggle to conceive with an STD?

There are some STDs which cause fertility problems when you do not treat them on time. For example, it is possible to treat chlamydia by taking antibiotics but it may cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) when you do not treat it on time. PID can affect reproductive organs such as – cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes which make it very difficult to conceive.

Gonorrhea is another STD that can be treated easily though it may cause harm when left untreated for a long time. The disease can lead to scar tissue in your uterus and fallopian tubes which make it difficult for the sperm to fertilise egg.

Different STDs which are risky in your pregnancy period

Let us discuss which STDs in pregnancy can possibly leave a negative impact on you and your would-be-born baby.

• Syphilis

Syphilis can be risky to a foetus when it is not treated early during pregnancy. The infection may be linked to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and neonatal death in some cases. Syphilis can be transmitted at the time of pregnancy, but it may even spread during child birth when the baby gets in contact with open sores.

• HIV

HIV may transmit onto the baby through placenta when you are pregnant. This virus can spread during birth and breastfeeding. HIV may be the reason for various symptoms in infants such as meningitis. failure to thrive and serious infections.

• Herpes

Women who suffer from genital herpes during pregnancy have the risk of passing it on to your child which causes neonatal herpes. In simple words, neonatal herpes might be deadly in the worst scenario but it affects your eyes, mouth and nose.

• Chlamydia

When chlamydial infections are not treated on time, this may be the reason for many complications both during and after pregnancy. Chlamydia can lead to preterm labor and low birth weight. If you do not treat chlamydia during childbirth, then you can cause your baby to develop eye infection or pneumonia.

• Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B may transmit from the mother to their kid during birth. There are chances for the babies to develop serious Hepatitis B infection without taking vaccination. This may be the reason for damage to the liver later on in life and there is the risk of passing on this virus to others. Women who have Hepatitis B possess the risk of their premature delivery.

• Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea may transmit from the mother their child at the time of vaginal delivery. This is the reason kids can develop various infections such as –scalp infections, serious infections in the eyes, urethritis and vaginitis. There are cases when eye infections may lead to permanent blindness.

What should you do when you have an STD during pregnancy?

Having an STD when you are pregnant can lead to health problems, particularly if the infection is not treated on time. If the test result is positive for an STD, then you need to get in touch with the healthcare provider or GP for more information on the next step.

If the STD is suitable to treat during your pregnancy, then your gynaecologist will give you the right course of medication to take. The STD should be cleared after the medication course is completed. But if it is not possible to treat STI when you are pregnant or the STI is untreatable, then the healthcare provider will take necessary steps for safe pregnancy and child birth. This may include alternative birth methods such as cesarean section or taking medication to lessen the risk of transmission to your baby like antiviral medication.

Can you give birth to a kid with STD?

If you suffer from an untreatable STI such as HIV or herpes, then you can still give birth to a baby by taking necessary precautions to protect the baby from further infection. There are possible risks of transmitting STD to your baby though proper medication and alternative birth methods may be implemented to lessen the risk of transmission.

Some STDs cannot be treated and getting advice from the healthcare provider will help to solve your problem. Certain infections such as – gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis can be treated by taking antibiotics during your pregnancy.

Where can you perform full STD test before conceiving?

Conducting a full STD test will encourage for your healthy and safe pregnancy. It ensures complete peace of mind by lessening the risk for your baby to get hold of potentially life-threatening diseases. You may perform an inclusive STD screening with different sexual health services. At-home testing kits and click & collect services are there for better privacy.

Diagnosing different kinds of STDs with the same sample will include screenings for the infections that the standard NHS kits do not test for. If you are looking for help to find the most suitable test option, then consult with your doctors according to your convenience.

It is advisable that you get a comprehensive STD screening in London and know whether you have been infected with an STI.

Book an appointment at our clinic to conduct different STD tests and take care of your health condition.