Herpes Symptoms During Pregnancy
From diagnosis until the birth if you first get herpes after 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Herpes symptoms during pregnancy. Because the infection is common in women of reproductive age it can be contracted and transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy and the newborn. If a baby catches herpes during or after birth it s more worrying. Transmitting the infection to your baby during labor and delivery is the biggest concern with genital herpes during pregnancy. If your partner has genital herpes abstain from sex during any active herpes outbreak.
The symptoms of herpes can be managed with medication. Fortunately fewer than 1 in 10 000 newborns contracts the disease even though genital herpes is fairly common. Genital herpes treatment in pregnancy. Herpes simplex virus is an important cause of neonatal infection which can lead to death or long term disabilities.
If this happens your baby could have very serious health problems. Pregnancy does not protect you from getting herpes. The centers for disease control and prevention cdc recommends treatment with an antiviral medication during pregnancy which can lessen symptoms and reduce discomfort and may be used to suppress herpes in pregnant women. Infection with herpes simplex is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections.
Women who get herpes during pregnancy. Women taking antiviral drugs for herpes either daily suppressive therapy or occasional therapy for outbreaks should consult their doctor about whether to take the drugs during pregnancy. Many women who have their first outbreak of genital herpes during pregnancy do not actually have a new infection instead the outbreak is the first symptomatic recurrence of a longstanding infection. Herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2 herpes simplex virus type 1 hsv 1 is the virus that is responsible for cold sores on the lips and about 50 of genital herpes.
Many women with genital herpes have a vaginal delivery. Between outbreaks use a condom from start to finish every time you have sexual contact even if your partner has no symptoms. If a woman with genital herpes has virus present in the birth canal during delivery herpes simplex virus hsv can be spread to an infant causing neonatal herpes a serious and sometimes fatal condition neonatal herpes can cause an overwhelming infection resulting in lasting damage to the central nervous system mental retardation or death. If you experience your first outbreak late in pregnancy get a western blot serology if at all possible.
Your newborn can catch herpes if you have an active outbreak in or around your vagina around the time of birth foley et al 2014 riley and wald 2018. If you test negative for genital herpes the following steps can help protect you from getting a herpes infection during pregnancy. From 36 weeks to reduce the chance of an outbreak during birth.