STIs and Pregnancy

 

Pregnancy & Parenthood 

Most STIs can be treated during pregnancy, 

and some can cause serious complications, so 

it’s worth being tested early on. Some STIs 

can be riskier the later you get them in your 

pregnancy, so always use a condom or 

femidom and if you think you’ve been put at 

risk, get tested at the beginning of your last 

trimester or when you give up working. 

Bacterial Vaginosis 

If you have bacterial vaginosis, you are at a 

greater risk of premature rupture of the 

membranes, preterm delivery and having a 

low birth weight baby. 

Chlamydia 

You may be tested for Chlamydia as part of 

your antenatal care. It can be safely treated 

with antibiotics while you’re pregnant. If it’s 

not treated, there may be links between 

Chlamydia and early miscarriage or 

premature birth. It can be passed to the baby 

during birth or, more rarely, during pregnancy, 

where it can cause serious eye infections and 

infant pneumonia. 

Genital Herpes 

The herpes virus can cause problems if you 

catch it for the first time while you’re 

pregnant. If you had, or have had genital 

herpes before you got pregnant, the risk is 

very low, as your baby will develop antibodies 

to it that will protect it during birth and for 

months afterwards. If you get genital herpes 

in the first two trimesters, the risk of passing 

it on is slightly increased, and you may be 

offered anti-viral medications. If you get 

genital herpes in the late stages of 

pregnancy, the risk is much higher, as your 

baby will not have had time to develop 

antibodies. You will need to take anti-viral 

medications for the last four weeks of 

pregnancy, and you may be offered a 

caesarean delivery if you have blisters and 

ulcers at the time of birth. 

Genital Warts 

Genital warts can be passed during birth to 

the baby, but this is rare. 

Gonorrhoea 

Gonorrhoea can be passed to the baby during 

birth, and it can cause serious eye infections 

which can lead to blindness if not treated with 

antibiotics immediately. 

Hepatitis B 

Hepatitis B can be passed to the baby during 

pregnancy. If you haven’t been vaccinated for 

Hepatitis B and think you may be at risk, you 

can be vaccinated while you’re pregnant. 

Hepatitis C 

4% of pregnant women with Hepatitis C will 

pass it to their baby – but this goes up to 19% 

if the mother has both HIV and Hepatitis C. 

HIV 

HIV can be passed to the baby during 

pregnancy, birth or breast-feeding, but the 

risk can be reduced by medication during the 

pregnancy and having a caesarean birth. 

Pubic Lice 

Pubic lice pose no problems for your 

pregnancy, but you should see your doctor to 

be prescribed treatment that’s safe. 

Scabies 

Like pubic lice, scabies isn’t dangerous for 

your baby, but you should see your doctor to 

get a prescription for something that you can 

safely use while you’re pregnant. 

Syphilis 

All pregnant women are tested for syphilis in 

the second trimester, and it can be treated 

with antibiotics while you’re pregnant. Syphilis 

can be passed to the baby during pregnancy – 

this is known as congenital syphilis – and it 

can cause serious birth defects, miscarriage 

and stillbirth. 

Thrush 

Thrush doesn’t cause any complications in 

pregnancy (and is actually quite common 

during the third trimester) but it can be 

passed to your baby at birth. This can then 

lead to nipple thrush if you’re breastfeeding. 

Thrush can be treated very easily. 

Trichomonas 

Trichomonas can be treated while you’re 

pregnant, although the treatment option is 

not quite as effective at clearing the infection. 

Trichomonas can be passed to the baby 

during pregnancy, and can cause 

complications like low birth weight and 

premature birth. 

STIs in Pregnancy