STDs While Pregnant

STDs are more common than you might think—20% of U.S. adults have one right now, according to the CDC. If you’re pregnant and sexually active, it’s important to protect yourself and your baby, especially when engaging in sexual activities with multiple partners.

Key Takeaways

• You can have sex when pregnant.
• With proper treatment and open communication with your sexual partners, it’s entirely possible to have a healthy, happy pregnancy and fulfilling sex life despite a positive STI test.
• Sexually transmitted infections are extremely common, affecting millions of people in the United States every day.
• Certain STIs can be passed to a baby during childbirth, and it’s extremely important to seek immediate treatment for an STI while pregnant to reduce the risk of harming the child.
  
  

What is an STD?

An STD (sexually transmitted disease) is an infection that spreads through bodily fluids—blood, saliva, and genital secretions—during sexual contact. But that’s not the only way. Some STDs pass from mother to baby, through shared needles, or even via blood transfusion. According to the CDC,  there are approximately 68 million active STDs in America alone at any given time, most of them being bacterial STDS. Bacterial STDs can be treated with antibiotics, but viral STDs have no cure. 

How Are STDs Diagnosed While Pregnant?

If you’re sexually active while pregnant, screening for STDs is crucial—some infections lurk silently before causing complications. Doctors usually check for STIs via blood or urine samples. If you’ve conceived through IVF, a fertility clinic like Ivy Fertility will likely screen you before and during your cycle.

According to global treatment guidelines, pregnant women must be screened for:

• HIV
• Syphilis
• Hepatitis B
• Gonorrhea
• HPV
• Chlamydia

These tests should be regularly done, even if your doctor doesn't request them, especially if:

• Having unprotected sex. 
• Having sexual contact with many partners. 
• A history of STDs. 
• Misuse of alcohol or recreational drugs, especially injected drugs.
  
  

STDs Pregnant People Can Watch Out For

According to the WHO,  STDs can either be bacterial or viral. Different STDs have specific symptoms, and in some cases, the symptoms only appear once the infection has already spread. Let’s look at the most common STDs.

Syphilis

This bacterial infection starts as a painless sore but turns ugly fast. Left untreated, it can silently damage your heart, brain, and other organs. It can also pass from mom to baby.

Symptoms of Syphilis can include:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Rash anywhere on the body, typically without any itching
• Weight loss
• Sudden baldness
• Headaches
• Swollen lymph nodes
  
  

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea (popularly known as The Clap) is a bacterial infection that also rarely shows symptoms, particularly in women. 

People with the disease can present with: 

• Itching around the anus
• Pain during bowel movements
• Cloudy or bloody discharge from the vagina, penis, or anus
• Heavy bleeding during or between periods
• Pain or burning feeling during urination
  
  

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common bacterial STD that can be asymptomatic in many pregnant people. If ignored, it can cause permanent reproductive damage. Symptoms of this STD include:

• Fever
• Discharge from the penis or vagina
• Pain or burning sensation during urination
• Abdominal or lower back pain
• Pain in the vagina, testicles or rectum
  
  

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis, or trich, is an STD caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Symptoms can include:

• Itching, burning, or soreness of the genitals
• Pain or burning when peeing or ejaculating
• Smelly (clear, white, gray, yellow, or green) vaginal discharge
• Discomfort during sex
• Swelling in the groin
• Frequent urination
  
  

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a viral infection that comes in three main types -A, B, and C. The STD can be asymptomatic, but if left untreated, it can cause complications such as damage to your liver. 

Symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Dark urine or clay-colored stool
• Jaundice or yellow skin
• Pain near the liver, under the ribs on the right side of the body
  
  

Herpes Simplex Virus

Herpes simplex virus (HSV), or herpes, is a common infection that spreads via skin-to-skin contact. It is treatable but not curable. There are two types of herpes simplex virus.

• Type 1 (HSV-1): This mostly spreads by oral contact and results in infections of the mouth presenting as oral herpes or cold sores. 
• Type 2 (HSV-2). This type spreads through sexual contact and causes genital herpes.

Symptoms include:

• Painful, recurring blisters or ulcers.
• Fever
• Body aches
• Swollen lymph nodes.
• Tingling, itching, or burning near the sores. 
• Sore throat (oral herpes)
• Headaches
  
  

HIV

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, particularly the CD4 cells. Without treatment, HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or  AIDS. Currently,  there is no effective cure for HIV and once people get HIV, they have it for life. However, proper medical care can control the virus and those who get on and stay on effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners. 

Symptoms can include:

• Fever, headache and sore throat
• Chills and night sweats
• Rashes or ulcers on the mouth
• Fatigue
  
  

HPV

HPV or human papillomavirus, is a viral infection that commonly presents with growths or warts. Some types of human papillomavirus infection can cause different types of cancer, like cervical cancer, Cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva, and back of the throat (oropharyngeal), which have been linked to HPV infection. Symptoms include:

• Small warts on or around the genitals, sometimes with a cauliflower appearance
• Itching and discomfort in the pelvic region
• Bleeding during sex

Vaccines can help protect against the strains of HPV most likely to cause genital warts or cervical cancer.

Can I Pass The STD to the Baby?

Yes. Some infections can travel from mom to baby during pregnancy or delivery, leading to birth defects, complications, or serious illnesses. That’s why regular screenings are a must. If you test positive, getting treatment ASAP can reduce risks significantly.

In HIV cases, the National Institute of Health states that HIV-positive moms who take antiviral medication during pregnancy can dramatically lower the chances of passing the virus to their babies. Women with active genital herpes lesions may require a cesarean section during delivery to avoid infecting the newborn. 

The Bottom Line

Being pregnant doesn’t mean intimacy suddenly takes a backseat. Plenty of expectant moms still want (and enjoy) sex. But unprotected sex while pregnant opens the door to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and those can spell trouble for both mom and baby. If you suspect you may have an STD, don’t panic. Get tested. Get treated. Stay informed. Ignoring an infection can have serious consequences for you and your baby. Prioritize your health—and don’t be afraid to have honest conversations with your doctor.