Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Pregnancy

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that are spread through sexual contact with an individual who has an STD. An STD can be contracted multiple ways: through oral, anal, or vaginal sex or through skin-to-skin contact. These can be passed to the baby during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Due to the serious nature of STDs, that they can harm both the mother and infant, testing and treatment are very important. 

How does an STD affect infants?

There are many harmful effects of passing a sexually transmitted disease to the infant, with effects depending on the type of infection. 

• Premature birth

• Stillbirth

• Miscarriage

• Low birth weight

• Infections of the infant’s blood, eyes, lungs, and brain

• Blindness

• Deafness

• Acute hepatitis

• Lack of coordination of extremities

How does an STD affect pregnancy? 

• STD testing is already part of routine prenatal care. Mothers with a history of STDs, are positive and require treatment, or who have multiple sexual partners, will require more testing for the safety of the mother and the infant and to determine efficacy of the treatment. 

• For most infections, medication can be given during pregnancy to prevent worsening illness for the mother and to prevent the spread of the infection to the infant. Some infections require medications after delivery to prevent the spread to the infant. 

• An STD can cause an infection of the uterus, causing complications for the mother postpartum. 

• Depending on the infection, a cesarean section may be the recommended delivery for the safety of the infant. 

• Breastfeeding may not be recommended depending on the infection or stage of disease process. 

How to prevent an STD

Reducing the risk is the key to preventing an infection. Ways to reduce exposure include:

• Limiting the number of partners. More partners means a higher chance of getting an STD.

• Being in a long term, mutually exclusive relationship.

• Only having partners that have been tested for STDs and are negative.

• Not having sex under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Being under the influence increases the likelihood of not practicing safe sex. Also drugs and alcohol harm the developing baby. 

Due to the harm and potentially life-threatening nature of STDs in pregnancy, early and frequent prenatal care is vital to a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. With testing and intervention, the risk of exposure to infants can be greatly decreased and even completely prevented. 

Sources

“About Stis and Pregnancy.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/sti/about/about-stis-and-pregnancy.html. Accessed 1 May 2025. 

“Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.” WebMD, WebMD, 11 Feb. 2024, www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-sexually-transmitted-diseases.

“Sexually Transmitted Infections, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding: Office on Women’s Health.” OASH | Office on Women’s Health, 22 Feb. 2021, womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/stis-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding.

Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board