Planned or unplanned, pregnancy can bring about a million questions, anxieties, and worries. If you think you might be pregnant and have an STD, you’re likely wondering if your condition will have any impact on your pregnancy, your options, and — if you chose to give birth — your baby.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are caused by microbes (bacteria or viruses) that are transferred through sexual contact through the mouth, anus, or genitals. If you or a sexual partner have had sexual contact with more than one person, at any point, you run the risk of contracting an STD.
While it’s always important to be aware of the risks related to STDs, this is especially necessary if you’re pregnant or think you might be pregnant.
Pregnancy and STDs — Will I pass my STD to my baby?
In short, yes — some STDs can be passed from the mother to the baby during pregnancy, birth, and even after the child is born.
STDs that can be passed to your child include the following:
– Chlamydia
– Genital herpes
– Gonorrhea
– Hepatitis B
– HIV/AIDS
– HPV/genital warts
– Syphilis
– Trichomonas Vaginalis
What happens if I pass an STD to my baby?
Having an STD while you’re pregnant can cause complications in your pregnancy and can seriously impact your baby’s future health and wellbeing. Depending on the infection, some potential impacts on children born to mothers with STDs might include:
– Premature birth
– Blindness
– Deafness
– Eye infections
– Pneumonia
– Meningitis
– Liver disease
– Blood infection
– Brain damage
– Lack of coordination
– Acute hepatitis
– Stillbirth
I think I’m pregnant and have an STD — What do I do?
Whether you think you’re pregnant or not, if you’re sexually active, it’s important to be tested for STDs on a routine basis. Because these diseases can lay dormant, it’s wise to be tested even if you don’t have any symptoms.
At BsideU For Life, we provide free STI testing and treatment at no cost to our pregnancy test clients, along with our other free services, including options counseling and ultrasounds.
Abortion and STDs — What to Know
If there’s a chance you might have an STD and are considering an abortion, you’ll still need to be tested before moving forward with your abortion appointment. In fact, getting an abortion while carrying an untreated STD can be extremely dangerous. Surgical abortions can cause untreated diseases to spread throughout your body, which can result in sepsis and septic shock. Women with STDs are also at a greater risk for ectopic pregnancies, where the pregnancy isn’t located in the uterus. Undetected, an ectopic pregnancy can lead to serious complications.
Like with any major medical procedure, it’s essential that you have a full picture of the potential risks and side effects of abortion, especially if there’s a chance you might have an STD or STI.
Schedule your appointment today!
Worried that you might have an STD or STI? It’s essential to be aware of these infections and be in control of your health and wellbeing!
Click here to schedule your appointment for a free and confidential STD test today!
Note: BsideU tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Trichomonas Vaginalis