What to Know about Herpes in Pregnancy
Herpes can lead to serious and sometimes fatal complications during pregnancy. Newborn babies infected with herpes do not have an immune system ready to control the infection. For that reason, preventing the spread of herpes to the baby is essential.
Question: I’ve never had herpes before… should I get tested?
Answer: You do not need to be tested for herpes if you have no history of herpes and you do not have symptoms. That is because: 1) there are high rates of false positive results for those tests, 2) for women without a history of herpes there is no known benefit to providing treatment, and 3) most cases of neonatal herpes occur among babies who’s mother’s became infected during pregnancy.
Question: I’ve had herpes before, what does that mean for my pregnancy?
Answer: Pregnant women who have a history of herpes can and should be offered treatment to suppress the herpes virus. Suppression is an effective way to prevent the virus from infecting the baby. Your doctor may recommend starting treatment as early as 36 weeks’ gestation.
Question: I have a herpes outbreak and I’m going into labor. What does that mean?
Answer: Herpes is spread to the baby through active lesions. For that reason, vaginal deliveries are generally not recommended when lesions are present. Your doctor may recommend a cesarian section (or C-section), which prevents infection in your baby.
If you’re interested in learning more, here are a few useful sources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Genital Herpes During Pregnancy
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Frequently Asked Questions and Practice Bulletin