Many women annually give birth to babies while infected with the genital herpes virus. In fact, it is estimated that 25% of pregnant women have genital herpes. However, many women are unaware that they have genital herpes since it is possible to go a lifetime without an outbreak. Also, outbreaks can be minimal and can, therefore, go unnoticed. If you are planning to conceive or are pregnant, your doctor will likely suggest a blood test for genital herpes if you have not had one before.
What is Genital Herpes?
Genital herpes is also known as Herpes simplex virus type 2 or HSV-2. This can show up as blisters and sores on the genital area, and if you have ever had herpes of this type, you are susceptible to recurrent infections. This virus is spread by sexual contact with a partner that had a contagious outbreak during the sexual contact. This includes oral sex with an infected person, and is not limited to sexual penetration. Type 1 or oral herpes is now being seen as up to 1/3 of the cause of many genital cases.
How does Herpes Affect Pregnancy?
During exams if you have an outbreak, your physician will see red bumps on the vagina or vulva that can turn into blisters. These blisters burst and become extremely painful sores. You can have only a few, or a large patch of sores that can last as long as 3 weeks. There may be an itch or burn and tingling in the genital area as well as discharge or swollen groin lymph nodes and painful urination as well.
Flu like symptoms are common including fever and headache with muscle aches. Many women get sick during the primary infection and have to be treated with an antiviral medication called Acyclovir during pregnancy. This medication can be administered during pregnancy for other outbreaks; a physician will tell you about your specific case.
Will Herpes Affect Child Birth or Conception?
The biggest concern many pregnant women have with this disease if infected, is will this hurt the baby? The possibility of passing genital herpes to your child through delivery is rare, with only about 1,300 babies being affected annually. This can be transmitted if you are contagious or have an outbreak at the time of vaginal delivery.
Very rarely will a woman give the infection to her baby through the placenta if the infection happens for the first time in the first trimester of pregnancy. If this were to occur, the baby would be infected and the virus will cause birth defects.
You will require a cesarean delivery if you have an outbreak at the time of birth. If you were infected in or before your third trimester or prior to pregnancy, you can have the child vaginally if you have no outbreak at the time of delivery.
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Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/How-Genital-Herpes-Will-Affect-Your-Pregnancy/718460
Routine herpes screening in pregnancy pays off.(GUEST EDITORIAL): An article from: OB GYN News
