Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control, HPV affects at least half of all sexually active individuals. Learning that you have any STD can be frightening, especially if you plan to have children in the future. Is Human Papillomavirus going to cause adverse effects on your pregnancy? Can HPV increase your risk of having a miscarriage? Here are some of the things that you should know about if you have this STD and plan to become pregnant.
Is There a Link Between HPV and Miscarriage?
According to the University of Hawaii System, there is no medical evidence which suggests that there is a link between miscarriage and Human Papillomavirus. Women who have HPV can feel rest assured to know that having the virus will not increase their risk. Also note that HPV does not increase the risk of any other complications during pregnancy, including preterm labor.
But My Friend Had HPV and Had a Miscarriage. Why?
Once again, there is no link between HPV and miscarriage. This does not mean that women who have been infected by the Human Papillomavirus won’t have a miscarriage. It simply means that the STD is not a risk factor for miscarriage. If a miscarriage is going to happen, it is going to happen regardless of whether or not the woman has HPV.
Ten to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, according to Student Health Services at Oregon State University. This is 10 to 20 out of every 100 pregnancies. Since at least 50 out of 100 women are believed to have HPV, there is a strong chance that some women who have miscarriages may also have the STD.
Are There Any Problems Associated with HPV and Pregnancy?
The biggest problem about having Human Papillomavirus during pregnancy is that it can cause discomfort. Women who have genital warts may actually find that this problem becomes more intense during pregnancy. As the warts grow, some women may wish to seek treatment. Cryosurgery, in which the warts are frozen off, is known to be one of the safest methods of treatment for HPV during pregnancy.
Another one of the potential problems of having this STD during pregnancy is that it can be passed to the baby during a vaginal delivery. It is important to keep in mind that this is an extremely rare occurrence and doctors generally do not recommend women to have cesarean-section deliveries simply because they have HPV. In the rare case that Human Papillomavirus is passed to the baby, it can be treated.
If you have any questions about having HPV during pregnancy, the best thing that you can do is talk to your doctor. However, feel rest assured to know that the risk of your pregnancy ending in miscarriage due to Human Papillomavirus is not possible.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Genital HPV Infection – CDC Fact Sheet.”
Oregon State University, “HPV and Miscarriage.”
University of Hawaii System, “A Patient Guide: HPV in Perspective” (PDF).
Web MD, “HPV and Pregnancy.”
