Pregnancy and STDs

STDs is more prevalent in teenagers. One in 4 teenagers, between age group 14 to 19, is infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Other important statistic to know is 31% of young women in the United States becoming pregnant before the age of 20. Transmission of STDs from a pregnant woman to her baby is possible before, during, and after birth, making it particularly important to inform young pregnant women about STDs. The pregnancy does not provide women or their babies any protection against STDs. Most of the STDs can be treated, if not treated can cause harm to the pregnant women and baby too.

Follow up:

The estimated numbers of pregnant women who are infected with specific STDs each year are as follows:

Syphilis
Syphilis has long been known to be an important risk factor. In untreated acquired syphilis, the natural history in pregnancy is believed to follow the sequential stages of primary, secondary, and latent syphilis. The untreated syphilis can result in low birth weight, preterm birth, stillbirth, and congenital infection in few babies.

Chlamydia trachomatis
Chlamydia in pregnancy and in non pregnant women leads to cervicitis and cervical discharge but a high proportion of women are asymptomatic. Information on the impact of untreated chlamydial infection on pregnancy outcome has mainly come from non-developing countries. The infection has been associated with stillbirth, premature delivery, premature, rupture of the membranes, and Low birth weight.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae
The clinical presentation of gonorrhoea in pregnant and non pregnant women is similar with up to 45% of cases being symptomatic. Up to 50% of the patients are asymptomatic. The primary source of infection is usually endocervical canal. The infection if not treated spreads to the uterus & uterine tube. The symptoms include vaginal discharge, itching, and lower abdominal. The sequelae of untreated gonorrhea in pregnancy include preterm delivery, premature rupture of the membranes, low birth weight, and postpartum endometritis.

Human immunodeficiency virus
In United States around 8,460 children who got HIV from their mothers have been diagnosed with AIDS, out of these 5,000 children have died. Fortunately, new AIDS cases in children have steadily declined from 855 in 1992 to 57 in 2005.

Women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy, while the baby is being delivered, or through breast-feeding. Mother-to-child transmission is the most common way children become infected with HIV. Mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV without intervention is around 15–30% without breastfeeding and rises to 30–45% with prolonged breastfeeding. Intrauterine MTCT of HIV is around 5 to 10%, 10–20% take place during delivery, and 5 to 20% post-delivery.

Can we treat STD in pregnant women?
Early detection and medication can cure most of the STDs and reduce the STD related complications. HIV transmission from mother to child can be reduced by antiviral medications. Like their mothers, children born with HIV are also benefiting from early diagnosis and better treatment.