STD’s during pregnancy

Contracting a Sexually Transmitted Disease is a concern for all women. These diseases are often related to unsafe sex practices and can develop in both pregnant and non-pregnant women. Whilst a STD in a non-pregnant woman can be painful and uncomfortable, for pregnant women they can have major complications for both you and the baby.
This is why it is important that pregnant women ensure they ask their doctor to perform a STD test during the early part of the pregnancy

Being tested for STDS during pregnancy

The difficulty with STDS is that they can be incredibly difficult to pick up on, some diseases may not have noticeable symptoms for a number of months. This is why it is incredibly important to make sure that you always ensure that you are fully tested for STDs whilst you are pregnant. If this is not routinely offered to you then ask your doctor to perform these tests.

How can an STD affect your unborn baby?

Contracting a STD during pregnancy should be a concern for pregnant women. Not only can they cause issues for a mother, but they can have serious implications for your developing baby.

Treating an STD during pregnancy

The majority of STDs can be safely treated during pregnancy. This includes chlamydia, syphilis, BV and gonorrhoea, all of which require a course of antibiotics. Other STDs that are caused by viruses such as herpes, hepatitis B or HIV cannot be cured, however there are medications that you can take to reduce the risk of any infection being passed to your baby.

Top tips for staying safe

The best way to reduce your risk of contracting any form of STD is to not have any form of vaginal, anal or oral sex. However, this is unlikely to be the ideal solution.
This means that you have two approaches to safe sex:

• Always use condoms, especially when you are having sex with a new partner or if you are unsure whether your partner is free of any STDs.
• Ensure that your partner has been tested for any STDs before you begin to have sex without condoms.

By doing both these things, whether pregnant or not, you can be sure that you are protected against a range of STDs that can be contracted by unsafe sexual practices. If you are concerned whether or not you have an STD, or simply want some advice on safe sex whilst pregnant, make sure that you speak to your doctor or midwife. They will be able to answer any questions that you may have and put any worries to rest. This is especially true if it relates to the health and wellbeing of your baby.