Introduction
Herpes is a virus-borne disease that affects millions of people every year. Herpes symptoms are bothersome, but the infection is not harmful to your health. Genital Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). If you have genital herpes, it’s conceivable that you’ll pass the virus on to your kid, so develop a plan with your doctor to avoid this. However, most genital herpes gives birth to healthy babies and do not transmit the infection to their children. Here’s what we know about genital herpes and pregnancy.
Herpes and pregnancy: what to expect?
What is Herpes?
Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by one of two types of herpes simplex viruses (HSV) responsible for Genital Herpes. Both are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and are frequently shared by people who have no visible wounds or blisters. Women are more likely than men to contract genital herpes. Herpes is a chronic virus with no cure, while drugs can help manage symptoms and outbreaks, even when pregnant.
Causes of Herpes
There are two types of herpes simplex viruses (HSV) that cause Herpes:
HSV-1, which normally causes cold sores or blisters around the mouth but can also spread to the vaginal area during oral sex, is a virus that causes cold sores or blisters around the mouth.
HSV-2 is a virus that causes genital Herpes and can be transmitted through vaginal or anal sex and the mouth during oral sex.
Symptoms of Herpes
Symptoms of Herpes usually occur two to ten days after the virus infects the body; however, many people who contract herpes have no symptoms.
Herpes might be mistaken for a common pimple or ingrown hair. If you get Herpes, you may have flu-like symptoms for two or more days, including
- Chills, lethargy, fever, headache, achiness, nausea, and general malaise.
- Genital soreness, itching, pain when peeing, vaginal and urethral discharge, and groyne tenderness are common symptoms.
- Small, painful, fluid-filled blisters or sores on the genitals and buttocks that blister and then crust over
Herpes can continue anywhere from two to four weeks during the initial outbreak, during which time it can still be spread. Because genital herpes is most likely to be passed on to a foetus during the first episode, contact your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms.
As the immune system builds antibodies, subsequent outbreaks may be less intense, less painful, and diminish more rapidly – within three to seven days. Just before sores emerge, you may experience tingling, burning, or itching where the infection started, but there is typically no fever or swelling.
How is Herpes diagnosed during pregnancy?
Consult your doctor if you or your spouse suffer any of the symptoms mentioned above. A doctor may be able to see your sores during an examination, but a lab test is required to diagnose genital Herpes. A sample of the fluid inside a sore is obtained and examined to see if the virus is present and, if so, what type of HSV is present. A blood test can detect antibodies and diagnose HSV and its type, but it cannot tell you how you got the virus or how long you’ve had it.
Risks associated with Herpes during pregnancy
According to certain studies, a genital herpes infection can cause miscarriage or preterm birth, which is why it’s critical to communicate any symptoms you’re experiencing with your doctor so that your case can be carefully monitored. If you have recurrent Herpes (that is, you’ve had an outbreak before), the chance of transferring Herpes to your unborn child is extremely low – less than 1%.
If you’re infected during the first trimester of your pregnancy and are asymptomatic, or if a standard screening for sexually transmitted illnesses at your first prenatal appointment diagnoses HSV for the first time. Because their systems have not yet created HSV antibodies, only women infected for the first time late in pregnancy have a higher risk of infecting their unborn offspring. Transmission of Herpes to a newborn occurs most commonly when the baby passes through the mother’s infected birth canal.
To avoid this, your doctor may prescribe medication throughout your third trimester to reduce the risk of a herpes breakout around the time you give birth. In addition, if you have active sores or are expecting a breakout near your due date, a caesarean section may be indicated to limit the risk of an infection.
Herpes and pregnancy: treatment
It’s unclear whether all antiviral drugs for genital Herpes are safe to take during pregnancy, so stick to your doctor’s advice. Antivirals can help manage herpes symptoms during an epidemic, reducing the length and intensity of the infection. Suppressive therapy, or daily medication, can also help you limit the number of outbreaks you have.
Managing Herpes during pregnancy
Most babies with HSV get it when they pass through an infected birth canal, Herpes is rarely transferred to a baby during pregnancy. In rare cases, the fluid in an infected birth canal might infect a baby who has not yet passed through it if the amniotic sac ruptures before birth. However, because Herpes can cause serious difficulties for your kid, such as skin sores, eye disorders (such as retinal inflammation), and brain damage, they will be given antiviral treatment if exposed to it during birth.
This therapy is administered intravenously, and he may be on it for several weeks. Your doctor should thoroughly inspect you for herpetic lesions when you go into delivery. A vaginal birth may be achievable if you don’t have any sores or symptoms at the time of delivery. If you have sores or early signs of a herpes breakout (such as vulvar pain and itching), a caesarean birth may be recommended to limit the risk of the virus infecting the baby.
The risk of contracting Herpes to infants during pregnancy or delivery
Neonatal Herpes is a type of Herpes that affects newborns. Neonatal Herpes, also known as birth-acquired Herpes, occurs when your infant is exposed to genital Herpes during vaginal delivery. Neonatal Herpes is uncommon, but it can result in catastrophic problems such as irreversible nerve damage, developmental impairments, and death when it does occur.
If you contract HSV for the first time during your pregnancy, the risk to your baby is the greatest. Because your HSV levels will be at their peak during that time, you’ll have fewer levels of antibodies to pass on to the baby before birth. If you get genital Herpes during your third trimester, you have a 30 to 50% chance of transferring the virus to your baby after birth
Herpes and pregnancy NHS
A newborn baby’s genital herpes infection can be fatal. Herpes can be contracted by vaginal touch with an infected person or through oral contact with a person who has cold sores (oral Herpes). The initial infection creates painful genital blisters or ulcers. Less severe outbreaks usually follow a few years later. If your first infection arises during pregnancy, treatment is available.
If you or your spouse has Herpes, use condoms or avoid sex during an outbreak. Herpes is extremely easy to spread, so avoid unprotected oral sex. If you or your spouse develops sores or has recurrent Herpes, tell your midwife or doctor.
How is Nurturey PinkBook helping pregnant women in their pregnancy journey?
Nurturey, the smartest digital upgrade to the NHS paper red book, allows you online access to GP services like GP/Midwife appointments, Prescriptions, Health Records, NHS Articles and Videos, and more! In addition, the NHS Pregnancy Guide is an easy-to-use, trusted content repository that helps women learn about the most often searched pregnancy subjects, such as the pregnancy journey, prenatal care, immunizations throughout pregnancy, health, and nutrition, all directly from NHS systems.
Conclusion
During pregnancy, genital Herpes might be a problem. However, your chances of spreading Herpes to your baby are slim unless you’ve only recently acquired the infection and it’s late in your pregnancy. If you’ve been exposed to genital herpes, it’s critical to acquire a good diagnosis so that your doctor or healthcare professional can devise a strategy to prevent the herpes virus from infecting your baby.
