As a pregnant woman, you have just as much chance of being infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) as any other woman. Pregnancy does not provide immunity to STDs, and what’s more, you’re not the only one at risk of STD side-effects — so is your unborn child.
The tricky thing about STDs is that many of them are ”silent” infectors, meaning that they don’t carry very obvious symptoms. The best way to protect yourself while pregnant is to have an STD test to ensure you are not carrying anything harmful that could affect you or your baby.
So are there any symptoms of STD while pregnant? Read on to learn more.
Common STDs That Affect Pregnant Women
An STD is an infection that’s spread through sexual intercourse and any other form of sexual activity that involves the mouth, anus, penis, or vagina. Despite the stigma, STDs are actually very common, with one in five people living with an STD of some form. Pregnant women are no less susceptible to catching and spreading any of these infections/viruses.
Some of the most common STDs that affect the U.S. population, including pregnant women include:
- Hepatitis B
- Herpes
- Chlamydia
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- Gonorrhea
- Trichomoniasis
- Syphilis
- HIV
If you are pregnant, you should get tested for an STD, regardless of your sexual history. It’s important to have the all-clear on your sexual health so that you can have a healthy pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.
Generally, an STD test is part of your prenatal medical care. But if an STD test is not offered, you should insist on having one done. Today, you also have access to STDcheck coupon which is discreet, confidential, and affordable.
What Are the Symptoms of STD While Pregnant?
The reality is that you could have an STD and not even know it. This is because most STDs do not present any obvious symptoms, and if they do, they are usually passed off as some other health issue.
For this reason, it’s so important to make sure you have an STD test if you are expecting, just to be 100 percent sure. It’s also crucial that you are aware of how STD symptoms can present themselves in a pregnant woman:
- Swelling around the vagina
- A red skin rash around the genitals, that’s either painful or not
- Sores, bumps, or warts on the genitals, anus, or near the mouth
- Pain when you urinate
- A loose stool
- Unusual weight loss and night sweats
- Joint pain
- Fever and chills
- A yellow tinge to the skin (also known as jaundice)
- Unusual discharge from the vagina — it might have an unpleasant smell
- Itching around the vagina or anus
- Pain during sex
It’s easy to see how some of these symptoms could double up with the symptoms of other conditions, such as a regular cold or flu. You might even pass off unusual discharge as part of your pregnancy.
But if you are experiencing more than one of these symptoms at the same time, it’s best to visit your doctor for an STD check right away. Otherwise, check out this STDcheck coupon and save money when applying for a test online.
How Does an STD Affect Your Pregnancy and Baby?
STDs are a serious health concern, especially if you are pregnant. The reality is that it can complicate your pregnancy and can have serious health effects on not only you but your unborn child.
While some of these health issues are not as apparent during gestation, they are often discovered and obvious at birth. Other health complications may develop later on down-the-line for your baby, too.
An STD infection while pregnant also makes you highly susceptible to contracting HIV, which is a disease that could affect both you and your child for the rest of your life. This being said, there are powerful medications today that can reduce transmission rates from mother to child.
Most of the time, an STD will pass from mother to child at birth. For this reason, you may be encouraged to have a cesarian section to deliver your baby.
Some of the more severe side-effects related to STDs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and syphilis include miscarriage, stillborn birth, skin and bone deformities, brain damage, and eye infection.
What To Do When Diagnosed With an STD
As soon as you’re diagnosed with an STD, ask your healthcare provider how you can treat the infection. Depending on the type of STD, your doctor will advise on the best course of treatment.
It’s important to note that not all STDs can be cured with a simple course of antibiotics. These STDs are viruses and include herpes, hepatitis B, and HIV. If you have an STD that is an infection, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics.
Some infections can also be treated with antiviral medications so that they are not passed on to your child. Depending on the STD you have, you may not be able to deliver your child naturally. But your doctor will advise you on the best choice for both you and your baby.
Steps To Take To Protect Yourself and Others
As a pregnant woman with an STD, it’s in your best interest to not only protect yourself and your child but also your partner. Your doctor will advise you to stop having sex until your infection is treated or has cleared up. Otherwise, use condoms to protect your partner or any new partners.
You might have to abstain from sex completely until your doctor gives you the all-clear, too. Try to stick to this recommendation!
It’s super important to carefully follow your doctor’s advice on STD treatment and look after yourself while still carrying your child to term. This includes taking and finishing a prescribed course of antibiotics or any other medications.
As well as nourishing yourself with healthy foods, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting enough sleep.
You’ll also need to have a few follow-up health checks with your doctor to be sure your STD has cleared up. Not-to-mention a pregnancy check-up to ensure your baby is developing in a healthy way. Make sure your partner is also re-tested to ensure they have not contracted anything while you’re being treated.
Discreet and Affordable STD Testing at Your Fingertips
If you are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms of STD while pregnant, it’s crucial that you get tested sooner, rather than later. The key to managing and treating an STD is early detection.
With STD Test Info, we offer STD testing at just the click of a button. You can order your test online in a completely confidential manner, and receive your results in as little as one-two days! Learn more about the online tests we offer, here.