Frequently Asked Questions
STDs AND PREGNANCY

Women who are pregnant can become infected with the same sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) 
as women who are not pregnant.  Pregnancy does not provide women or their babies any protection 
against STDs.  In fact, the consequences of an STD can be significantly more serious, even life 
threatening, for a woman and her baby if the woman becomes infected with an STD while she is 
pregnant.  As the list of diseases known to be sexually transmitted continues to grow, it is 
increasingly important that women be aware of the harmful effects of these diseases and know how 
to protect themselves and their children against infection.

How can STDs affect 			STDs can have many of the same consequences for pregnant 
a woman during				women as for women who are not pregnant.  STDs can cause 
pregnancy?				cervical and other cancers, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and 
					other complications.  Many STDs are silent, or present without 
					symptoms, in women. Other consequences are early onset of 
					labor, premature rupture of the membranes surrounding the 
					baby in the uterus, and uterine infection after delivery.

How can a pregnant 			STDs can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus, 
woman’s baby 				newborn, or infant before, during or after birth.  Some STDs 
become infected?			(like syphilis) cross the placenta and infect the fetus during its 
					development. Other STDs (like Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, 	
					Hepatitis B, and genital herpes) are transmitted from the 	
					mother to the infant as the infant passes through the birth 	
					canal.  HIV infection can cross the placenta during pregnancy, 
					infect the newborn during the birth process, and, unlike other 
					STDs, infect an infant as a result of breast-feeding.

How can STDs affect 			Harmful effects on the baby may include stillbirth, low birth  
the fetus or newborn?			weight, conjunctivitis (eye infection), pneumonia, neonatal 	
					sepsis (infection in the blood stream), neurological damage 
					(such as brain damage or motor disorder), congenital 	
					abnormalities (including blindness, deafness, or other organ 
					damage), acute hepatitis, meningitis, chronic liver disease, and 
					cirrhosis. Some of these consequences may be apparent at 
					birth; others may not be detected until months or even years 
					later.

Should pregnant women			STDs affect women of every socioeconomic and educational 
be tested for STDs?			level, age, race, ethnicity and religion.  The Centers for 	
					Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) STD Treatment 	
					Guidelines (2006) recommend that pregnant women be 	
					screened for the following STDs at their first prenatal visit: 	
					Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B and C, HIV, Syphilis 	
					and Bacterial Vaginosis.

Can STDs be treated			Bacterial STDs (like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis) can 
during pregnancy?			be treated and cured with antibiotics during pregnancy.  There 
					is no cure for viral STDs such as genital herpes and HIV, but 
					antiviral medication for herpes and HIV may reduce symptoms 
					in the pregnant woman.  In addition, the risk of passing HIV 
					infection from mother to baby is dramatically reduced by 	
					treatment.  For women who have active genital herpes lesions 
					at the time of delivery, a cesarean section may be performed 
					to protect the newborn against infection.

How can pregnant women			Although a woman may be monogamous during her pregnancy, she
protect themselves			can remain at risk of STDs if her partner is not monogamous.
against infection?			For this reason, she may want to consider consistent and correct 
					use of latex or polyurethane condoms for every act of intercourse.  
					Protection is critical throughout a woman’s pregnancy, including 
					the last trimester when active infection can present a great threat 
					to the health of a woman and her baby.

For more information:			Call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at            
					1-800-232-4636, TTY: 1-888-232-6348 In English en Español. 

  

Contact Number: STD Program, (302) 744-1050
Revised: 03/2007 Doc. # 35-05-20/03/07/14