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It is the problem many people have but nobody wants to talk about. There are many kinds of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), all of which are spread by sexual contact. Preventing STDs before and during pregnancy is very important to you and to your baby.

Pregnant or not pregnant, STDs can cause cervical and other cancers, hepatitis, liver problems and sterility. During pregnancy, however, STDs are a special problem. If you have an STD, you are more likely to give birth prematurely. There may also be harmful effects to the fetus and the newborn in women with an STD. These effects can include: stillbirth, low birth weight, eye infection, pneumonia, brain damage and many other very serious health and developmental problems.

While STDs can cause health problems for both mother and child, the good news is that many of them can be prevented and treated.

STDs: What are they?

The most common STD in the United States is genital herpes. Some 800,000 pregnant women in the United States have it. If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, tell your doctor. The risks to the baby are serious - the baby can be infected as he or she travels down the birth canal. Sometimes physicians recommend a cesarean birth to avoid infecting the baby.

Other common STDs include:
  • Chlamydia: Women with chlamydia may have no symptoms. The only way to know if you have chlamydia is to be screened. Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics.

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  • Trichomoniasis: This is an STD that affects the vagina and may be quite uncomfortable at times. It is treatable with antibiotics.

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  • Gonorrhea: Women with gonorrhea may have no symptoms, but you must be tested. Gonorrhea is treatable with antibiotics.
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  • Hepatitis B: This is an infection of the liver. As yet there is no cure.
Two STDs that are less common are:
  • HIV: This virus causes AIDS. According to the March of Dimes, women should know their HIV status before becoming pregnant. As yet there is no cure. In fact, HIV can be transferred to the infant and is becoming more prevalent among newborns.

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  • Syphilis: This is an STD that can be hard to detect in women. It can be treated with antibiotics.
Vaginal Candidiasis: Although not an STD, this infection is a common problem for all women, but especially during pregnancy. Vaginal Candidiasis, a type of yeast infection, is 10 times more likely to occur during pregnancy.

You should be tested

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that pregnant women be screened for the following STDs:
  • Chlamydia
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  • Gonorrhea
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  • Hepatitis B
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  • Syphilis
Some doctors do not perform these tests routinely, so you may need to request them, the earlier the better in your pregnancy. The tests involve either a genital swab or a blood test. If you have been tested in the past, it does not mean that you are clear of an STD now, so insist on being tested again.

STDs can be prevented, treated
  • Know and limit your sexual partners.

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  • Use a condom every time you have sex.

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  • Use a spermicide. Many birth control creams, jellies and foams contain a chemical that may help guard against some STDs. However, you must also use a condom.

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  • Avoid anal sex.


  • Get immunized for Hepatitis B prior to pregnancy or shortly following birth.
Bacterial STDs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) can be treated and cured with antibiotics during pregnancy. There is no cure for STDs caused by viruses such as genital herpes or HIV, but medication can help alleviate symptoms.

Date last reviewed: October 2002.

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