Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infectious diseases that spread from person to person through intimate contact. STDs can affect guys and girls of all ages and backgrounds who are having sex — it doesn't matter if they're rich or poor
HOW STDs AFFECT UNBORN BABY:
A pregnant woman with untreated gonorrhea may have an increased risk of miscarriage or preterm delivery. A baby that is born while the mother has an active infection can develop blindness, joint infection, or a life threatening blood infection. HPV (Genital Warts): This is a very common STD.
How can genital herpes affect your pregnancy and your baby?
Typically during a pregnancy, genital herpes does not harm the fetus, but during childbirth/delivery the baby is at risk and precautions must be taken. If the mother has active genital lesions during childbirth, the highly contagious virus can infect the baby. If the baby contracts the virus during birth, it can affect the skin, eyes, mouth, central nervous system, and/or even spread to internal organs via disseminated disease which can cause organ failure and lead to death.
How can chlamydia affect your pregnancy and your baby?
Similarly to gonorrhea, chlamydia can increase the risk of miscarriage and premature birth. It can also cause eye infections or even pneumonia in newborns. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics during pregnancy. The medication newborns are given at birth to prevent gonorrhea infections of the eye also prevents chlamydia eye infections.
How can syphilis affect your pregnancy and your baby?
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is very harmful to infants and unborn babies. It can cause a mother to miscarry or the baby to be stillborn. Syphilis can easily be transmitted to a fetus and can cause serious or even fatal infections. This bacterium can be transmitted to the baby in the birth canal or can transfer to the fetus from the placenta. Infants with congenital syphilis are often born prematurely and if left untreated, syphilitic babies will likely develop serious issues in internal organs like the heart, brain, skin, eyes, ears, bones and teeth.
How can HIV affect your pregnancy and your baby?
With treatment, the likelihood of transmitting HIV to a newborn during childbirth drops to 2 percent; when left untreated the virus has a 25 percent chance of being spread to the baby.
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