Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are known to affect more than one and a half million women who are pregnant in the United States annually. What’s worse is that these statistics are predicted to increase in future years. You are probably already aware of the fact that STDs can have a huge effect on your own personal body, including the symptoms which they cause and other risks, such as cervical cancer that is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). What you may not be aware of, however, is the fact that STDs can have a huge effect on your pregnancy and unborn child.
What Effects Can STDs Have On Pregnancy?
There are various effects that STDs are known to have on pregnancies. One of the main complications that is known to be associated with having an STD while pregnant is premature or low weight births. Though it is known to be a lot less common, one of the complications which may be caused by having an STD during pregnancy is miscarriage. Uterine infections post-pregnancy are known to be very common among pregnant women with STDs.
What Effects Can STDs Have On An Unborn Baby?
While you may not be too concerned about the way that an STD has affected you as an individual, it is important to keep in mind that there are often ways that it will also affect your unborn baby. Not only is it very common for certain STDs to be passed from mother to child, but it can also have an effect on the overall development of the baby. Some of the various other health effects that can be caused by an STD during pregnancy include brain damage, blindness, deafness, chronic liver disease, pneumonia and even reoccurring pink eye. All of these effects can be truly devastating for your unborn child.
What Should You Do To Prevent These Consequences?
The main thing that you are probably wondering is what can be done in order to prevent these consequences from having an effect on your pregnancy or unborn child. The main key is to make sure that your STD is treated as best as it possibly can be during your pregnancy. Certain STDs can typically be cured during your pregnancy through antibiotics that your doctor prescribes. STDs, such as herpes and HIV, cannot be cured. Luckily, they can be controlled. Controlling these STDs will greatly reduce the risk of them having an effect on your unborn baby, which is why it is so important to make sure that you get treatment, even if you know that it will not cure your STD. The main key is to make sure that you discuss your STD with your doctor, who should question you about it. They will be able to tell you what your possible options for preventing your STD from affecting your unborn child during your pregnancy.
