Sexually transmitted diseases in pregnant women
Sexually transmitted diseases, or venereal diseases, are infections that are passed from person to person through sexual contact. Pregnant and non-pregnant women are at equal risk of infection.
Table of Contents
Sexually transmitted diseases that develop during pregnancy cause serious harm to both the fetus and the mother. Most of these diseases have an asymptomatic course and sometimes the patient does not realize that he is infected. That is why it is important to conduct tests for STDs during pregnancy, including human immunodeficiency virus.
- Chlamydia – One of the most common bacteria transmitted through sexual contact. Most cases of chlamydia, including in pregnant women, are asymptomatic. Pregnant women sometimes experience unusual vaginal discharge, bleeding after intercourse, and burning or itching during urination. Untreated chlamydia in pregnant women often causes complications such as premature birth, placental abruption, low birth weight, and more. The fetus becomes infected during passage through the birth canal and later develops symptoms of lung and eye damage.
- Herpes simplex (HSV)There are two types: type I and type 2. The genital system is infected with both types, although type II herpes is more common. The symptoms of genital herpes are the same in pregnant and non-pregnant women. Pregnant women are more likely to have complications for both the mother and the fetus.
Although the infection can be transmitted during pregnancy and after birth, the risk of infection in the newborn is highest if HSV infection occurs during delivery. However, if the mother has recurrent herpes or acquired the infection in the first half of pregnancy, the risk of infection in the newborn is relatively low.
HSV infection can lead to serious complications in the newborn, such as herpes encephalitis and pneumonia. To prevent these complications, a cesarean section is recommended.
- Gonorrhea It is an infection caused by bacteria. Neisseria gonorrhoeaeWithout treatment, it can cause serious pregnancy complications: spontaneous abortion, chorioamnionitis, premature rupture of membranes, premature birth, and low birth weight, and infants may develop eye infections.
Because gonorrhea causes problems for both the mother and the newborn, it is important that a specialist correctly diagnoses the infection and administers effective antibiotic therapy to ensure the patient's complete recovery.
- B Hepatitis – It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) of the same name. The virus is transmitted both sexually and vertically – from mother to fetus. The risk of fetal infection is especially high if the mother is infected in the third trimester of pregnancy. Infected newborns have a very high risk of becoming chronic carriers of the virus in the future. Newborns with chronic B viral infection develop liver damage early and eventually liver cancer. These complications can be prevented by screening pregnant women for sexually transmitted diseases and early treatment of infected newborns.
- HIV– Human immunodeficiency virus – causes acquired immunodeficiency. The virus can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as during breastfeeding.
- Human papillomavirus HPV A virus that is most commonly found in the lower genital tract, including the cervix, vagina, and external genitalia. High-risk strains can cause cervical cancer, while low-risk strains can cause genital warts (condylomas), which often increase in number and size during pregnancy.
Acute HPV infection may cause burning or itching. If a woman develops genital warts during pregnancy, it is recommended that treatment be postponed until after delivery.
If the warts are large or widespread and could make vaginal delivery difficult, a cesarean section is recommended.
A newborn baby born to an infected mother may develop laryngeal papillomatosis, herpes encephalitis, or pneumonia.
- Syphilis Is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection that can be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, resulting in the fetus developing congenital syphilis. Complications associated with syphilis during pregnancy include: premature birth, stillbirth, and high neonatal mortality in infancy. If newborns are not treated in a timely manner, they may develop pathologies of various organs: eyes, ears, heart, skin, bones, and others.
- Trichomonas vaginalisIt is a sexually transmitted parasite that affects pregnant women as often as non-pregnant women. Untreated trichomoniasis can cause various complications in pregnant women: premature birth, low birth weight. During physiological childbirth, it is also possible to infect the female fetus, which soon gives clinical manifestations in newborn girls (in the form of vaginal discharge).
Sexually transmitted diseases in pregnant women –Symptoms
The symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases are the same in pregnant and non-pregnant women. Sometimes the disease is practically asymptomatic, which greatly complicates the situation and increases the risk of complications.
- Lesions or warts on the anus, genitals, or mouth;
• A painful or red area around the penis or vagina
• Skin rash
• Pain during urination
• Weight loss, diarrhea, night sweats
• Aches, fever, and chills
• Jaundice
• Uro-genital discharge with a specific odor
• Bleeding between periods
• Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Severe itching in the genital area.
Sexually transmitted diseases in pregnant women-Causes and risk factors
Sexually transmitted infections are caused by:
- Bacteria: gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia
- Parasites: Trichomonas vaginalis
- Viruses: HPV , genital herpes, HIV, hepatitis A, B, C
- etc
Sexually transmitted diseases in pregnant women –diagnostics and treatment
Diagnosis begins with a physical examination, and the doctor determines characteristics such as: rash, warts, discharge - based on which a plan for laboratory and instrumental examinations is drawn up.
Serological tests – based on the patient's symptoms, antibodies to specific pathogens are determined
Molecular diagnostics PCR – urogenital smear test for pathogens
Human papillomavirus detection and genotyping
Treatment depends on the type of pathogen identified. In pregnant women, it is important to begin treatment as soon as the pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases are identified. This reduces the risk of infection of the fetus and the development of complications.
Laboratory "Synevo" offers diagnostic tests for sexually transmitted diseases:
| Name of the test | Category | Price | CODE | Response time (working day) ** | Location of the analysis **** | Buy | hf:tax:product_cat |
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source
http://1. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)
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