Sexually Transmitted Infection or Disease and Pregnancy

            Sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STDs) can attack individuals anytime during their lifetime and because women who become pregnant are sexually active, exposure to STDs during pregnancy can and does occur. The ethical questions that should be considered are the implications to the unborn fetus. STDs can cause sickness not only in the pregnant female but also, potentially, to the unborn fetus. 

            The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all pregnant women be tested for STDs. For example, screening in the first trimester should be completed for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B. If women are symptomatic for bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, or herpes simplex, diagnostic testing should be completed.

            Why all the fuss over STDs during pregnancy? Let’s explore a few STDs and the effects on pregnancy…

HIV infection: a mother infected with HIV can pass the virus to her unborn baby during the pregnancy, during delivery, or when breastfeeding.

Syphilis infection during pregnancy may lead to premature birth, stillbirth, or infant death shortly after delivery. If the infant survives, they may still suffer from health problems related to the brain, eyes, ears, heart, skin, teeth or bones.

Hepatitis B: mothers who develop Hepatitis B close to delivery may pass the virus to their child which may lead to lifelong health complications to include chronic liver disease or liver cancer.

Chlamydia:  If chlamydia is left untreated during pregnancy, the pregnancy may be complicated by preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, or low birth weight of the infant.

Gonorrhea: Untreated gonorrhea may lead to miscarriage of pregnancy, premature birth, low birth weight, or premature rupture of membranes. Gonorrhea infection at delivery may lead to infant eye infections.

Herpes Simplex: Untreated or unrecognized infection with HSV may lead to serious infections for the infant.

            Some STDs are easily treated with antibiotic treatment; some infections require more extensive monitoring during pregnancy.

            There are many resources available outlining recommendations for STDs in pregnancy. The CDC has a fact sheet available:

http://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/STDFact-Pregnancy.htm

They also have a great website with links to loads of information:

http://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/default.htm

Additionally, the World Health Organization as a global leader in women’s and children’s health, is very concerned with the transmission of STDs from a lifelong health perspective:

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs110/en/

            Overall, we all need to be concerned with the prevalence of STDs from an individual, national and global perspective. STDs not only have serious implications to the individual infected, but also to an unborn child.