What Precautions Should You Take if You Have Herpes and Are Trying to Get Pregnant?

Women with herpes can get pregnant and have healthy children. However, it should be noted that women exposed to herpes have a higher risk of childbearing complications, such as early preterm delivery, and premature rupture of membrane. In some cases, herpes can be transmitted to the fetus when it’s still in the uterus. It happens because the virus spreads through the blood to the placenta, causing problems in the baby’s eyes or skull. It can be also transmitted as the infant passes through the birth canal. The disease can be localized in the baby’s eyes, skin, or mouth, and sometimes it can be disseminated. To avoid these problems, women should take seriously to test themselves for herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases as soon as they know they are pregnant, whether they suspect to have been infected or not. When herpes infection is detected, antiviral therapy should be initiated to avoid viral spreading to the fetus, and a cross-section is often prescribed to prevent spreading the disease to the newborn.

Note: This article is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your specific condition.