Sexually transmitted diseases, commonly called STDs, are infections that are spread by having sex with someone who has an STD. You can get a sexually transmitted disease from sexual activity that involves the mouth, anus, or vagina.
STDs are serious illnesses that require treatment, whether or not you are pregnant. However, if you are pregnant, you are not the only one at risk; many STDs can be especially harmful to both you and your baby. Some STDs, like HIV/AIDS, have no cure and can be deadly.
Your health care provider will likely screen for some STDs at your first prenatal visit, but if you have sex with someone who is infected, you will need to be screened at subsequent appointments and treated. If you suspect you have an STD, be sure to tell your doctor immediately. Fast treatment is the best way to protect you and your baby.
STDs include:
- Herpes
- HIV/AIDS
- Genital warts (caused by the Human Papilloma Virus [HPV])
- Hepatitis B
- Chlamydia
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhea
- Trichomonas vaginalis (a sexually transmitted form of vaginitis, also called "trich")
What are the symptoms of STDs?
Sometimes, there are no symptoms. If symptoms are present, they may include:
- Bumps, sores, or warts near the mouth, anus, penis, or vagina
- Swelling or redness near the penis or vagina
- Skin rash
- Painful urination
- Weight loss, loose stool, night sweats
- Aches, pains, fever, and chills
- Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
- Discharge from the penis or vagina (vaginal discharge may have an odor)
- Bleeding from the vagina other than during a monthly period
- Painful sex
- Severe itching near the penis or vagina
How can STDs affect my pregnancy?
STDs in pregnancy can harm you and your developing baby.
- HIV/AIDS: Thanks to the advent of potent drug powerful medications cocktails, transmission of HIV infection to your infant is almost completely preventable. But, when the disease is passed on, the baby may develop HIV infection.
- Herpes: Herpes infection in a pregnant woman is relatively safe until she gets ready to deliver. Active herpes lesions on the genitals are highly contagious and can infect the infant as it's being born. Thus, many of these women are delivered via cesarean section.
- Gonorrhea: Gonorrhea is a common STD, usually diagnosed through a Pap smear. If contracted during pregnancy, the infection causes fever, mouth sores, and bloodstream infections. The baby is usually unaffected, but if a baby is born while the mother has an active infection, the child can develop a severe eye infection.
- HPV (Genital warts): This is a very common STD. It is diagnosed through a Pap smear. If you contract genital warts during pregnancy, treatment may be delayed until after you deliver. There's a danger, though, that the warts can block the birth canal.
- Chlamydia: Pregnancy appears to be unaffected by Chlamydia infection. However, infants who are exposed to Chlamydia can develop severe eye infections and pneumonia.
- Syphilis : Syphilis is most often diagnosed through blood testing, although a syphilitic lesion can also be tested. Syphilis is easily passed on to your unborn child and is likely to cause an often-fatal infection.. The affected infants are often premature. Untreated infants that survive tend to develop problems in multiple organs, including the eyes, ears, heart, skin, and bones. Your doctor is likely to prescribe treatment of syphilis during your pregnancy to decrease risk of transmission.
- Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. If a pregnant woman is infected with hepatitis B, she can transmit the infection to the fetus through the placenta. Her newborn can become infected as well. In addition, women with hepatitis B are more likely to have a premature birth delivery. However, early screening and vaccination can prevent the worst outcomes of this infection. If you have hepatitis B, your doctor will give your newborn an injection of antibodies to prevent him or her from becoming infected.
How can I find out if I have an STD?
At your prenatal visit, your health care provider will screen for a number of STDs. Even so, if you think you have an STD, tell your provider. He or she can examine you and perform other tests to determine if you have a sexually transmitted disease.
How are STDs treated during pregnancy?
Treatment depends on how far the infection has progressed and how far along you are in your pregnancy. Many STDs are treated with antibiotics, which Antibiotics are medicines that are given as a shot or taken by mouth.
- HIV/AIDS: Although an incurable disease, you can prevent transmitting the virus to your baby by taking a multitude of medication.
- Herpes: Women with active herpes lesions at delivery will likely be delivered via cesarean to prevent transmitting the infection to the baby.
- Gonorrhea: Pregnant women with the infection can be treated with antibiotics. Because gonorrhea is often without symptoms, all newborn babies are given medications at birth to prevent development of this eye infection.
- HPV (Genital warts): If you contract genital warts during pregnancy, treatment may be delayed until after you deliver.
- Chlamydia: Mothers with Chlamydia are treated with antibiotics.
- Syphilis: Your doctor is likely to prescribe treatment of syphilis during your pregnancy to decrease risk of transmitting the infection to your baby.
- Hepatitis B: If you have hepatitis B, your doctor will give your newborn an injection of antibodies to prevent him or her from becoming infected.
If you are given an antibiotic to treat a STD, it’s important that you take all of your medicine, even if the symptoms go away. Also never take someone else's medicine to treat your illness. By doing so, you may make it more difficult to treat the infection. Likewise, you should not share your medicine with others.
How can I protect myself from STDs?
Here are some basic steps that you can take to protect yourself from STDs:
- Consider that not having sex is the only sure way to prevent STDs.
- Use a latex condom every time you have sex. (If you use a lubricant, make sure it is water-based.)
- Limit your number of sexual partners. The more partners you have, the more likely you are to catch an STD.
- Practice monogamy. This means having sex with only one person. That person must also have sex with only you to reduce your risk.
- Choose your sex partners with care. Don’t have sex with someone whom you suspect may have an STD.
- Get checked for STDs. Don’t risk giving the infection to someone else or your baby. Just because you've been screened for STDs early on in your pregnancy, doesn't mean that you can't contract one later during your pregnancy. If you've engaged in unprotected sex with more than one partner since your last STD screen, you need another set of screening tests. Also, you should be concerned if your partner is having unprotected sex with other people.
- If you have more than one sex partner, always use a condom.
- Don’t use alcohol or drugs before you have sex. You may be less likely to practice safe sex if you are drunk or high. Plus, alcohol and drugs can harm your developing baby.
- Know the signs and symptoms of STDs. Look for them in yourself and your sex partners.
- Learn about STDs. The more you know about STDs, the better you can protect yourself.
How can I prevent spreading a STD?
- Stop having sex until you see a health care provider and are treated.
- Follow your health care provider’s instructions for treatment.
- Use condoms whenever you have sex, especially with new partners.
- Don’t resume having sex unless your health care provider says it’s OK.
- Return to your health care provider to get rechecked.
- Be sure your sex partner or partners are also treated.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 8/31/2006
