One out of five people living in Dallas are infected with herpes.  It comes to no surprise that women would be concerned about herpes during pregnancy. Many outbreaks and symptoms of herpes are so mild, they may go unnoticed. This concerns many women that have ever had unprotected sex in the past. They may have contracted genital herpes without even knowing. On the other hand, some women may already know that they are infected. The concern of the effects this could have on an unborn child could lead to stress which in turn could cause problems during pregnancy.

 The risk of a baby contracting herpes during birth is extremely small. Transmission risks are lowest for women who acquired herpes before pregnancy and who have no signs or symptoms of an outbreak at delivery. The chances of transmission are highest when a woman acquires genital herpes late in pregnancy since her body may not have had time to pass the antibodies to the baby through the placenta. This fact, however, doesn’t eliminate the future parents’ fears.

Pregnant with Herpes?

The results can be tragic when an infant does contract neonatal herpes. Only around half of the infants treated with antiviral medication avoid permanent damage. Others, however, may suffer serious neurological damage, mental retardation, or even death. Many people undergo STD testing before trying to become pregnant. Still others receive the testing once they are already pregnant at their ob/gyn appointment. The problem is that this testing usually only consists of chlamydia and gonorrhea tests. Even if a patient requests herpes testing, they are often told that the testing cannot be done unless there is a current outbreak with visible sores. In the Dallas area, over one million people are infected with herpes. Luckily, there is a solution for being tested even if one has never had an outbreak. Select testing centers located in the Dallas area such as Any Lab Test Now in Plano offer confidential blood tests which are able to detect the herpes virus.

Early detection during pregnancy can help healthcare providers manage the infection and minimize the risk. There is the possibility of C-section delivery to avoid the risk of transmission. Although it may be an uncomfortable topic to discuss with one’s practitioner, it is important to keep the baby’s well being in mind. If in doubt, the best course of action is to be tested and inform one’s practitioner of any concerns.

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