Shockingly, STIs among pregnant women are gaining in numbers. Per the
CDC’s recent report, cases of preventable congenital syphilis are up 36%.
These infections – which
are passed to the infant – could be stopped if doctors talked to pregnant women
about STI testing and treatment.
Syphilis can remain
dormant, so a woman may not know she is infected.
Read more: 5 questions gynaecologists have asked their own gynaes
What aren’t doctors already having these talks?
Researchers say
doctors don’t want to think about women having new sex partners or their
husbands sleeping with other people, while they are pregnant, but both happen.
Most women are tested
for certain STIs at the beginning of their pregnancy, and new
infections between that test and the birth are a major reason for the syphilis
rise.
Read more: 8 vagina changes that mean you’ve just caught an STD
Are there other STIs that can remain dormant?
Herpes can flare up
for the first time during pregnancy and can be passed on to the baby. Gonorrhoea and chlamydia can increase miscarriage risk. Once detected, all can be treated with
medication.
If your ob-gyn doesn’t
bring up STIs, start the conversation yourself.
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com
Image credit: iStock
Sara Faye Green
