Herpes and Pregnancy: Is the Baby Safe?
Is there a relationship between herpes and pregnancy? The answer is yes. Women who suffer from genital herpes and find themselves pregnant are often worried if their newborn will acquire the virus. What are the chances of the baby getting it? Today you will know the answer to it.
Facts about Fever Blister and Pregnancy
Millions of women do suffer from vagina herpes or female herpes. This condition is caused by two types of viruses known as type 1 and type 2. It’s the latter that’s commonly considered culprit for herpes genitalia. Though it strikes men, it’s more common to women, hence the name.
Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. In other words, it’s contagious. Thus, pregnant women are worried that their newborn will acquire the same illness as them. The answer is it’s possible, but it’s very rare. In fact, on the average, only 1 of the 5,000 plus newborns develop the disease.
Pregnancy Risks
However, there are conditions related to herpes and pregnancy. For one, the possibility is very low when the woman has suffered at least one herpes outbreak before the pregnancy. By then, her body has already produced enough antibodies to fight off the virus. Moreover, the baby will also develop its own fighting mechanism.
The chances of infection increase to as much as 50 percent if the mother acquires the herpes for the first time, more so when the transmission happened during the first trimester.
Babies who are born with the herpes virus can still be treated by medications, almost similar to those given to the pregnant mothers. Nevertheless, it’s common for the newborns to suffer from neurological or brain damage. Some will grow up with very slow mental development skills or may suffer from retardation. Those with very low immunity will eventually die.
Watch Out for the Herpes Symptoms
As mentioned, not everyone knows they are afflicted of herpes. Thus, you may want to pay attention to the signs, so immediate treatment can be suggested.
When you have the disease, you can develop genital lesions or sores in the affected area, that is, in the vagina. The sores can eject discharges or fluids. They can also cause pain not only in the genital area but also in the lower back. There are also others who will develop slight fever, as well as muscle aches. The lesions may appear in other parts of the body too. If you constantly touch them, you may move the virus into your face and cause oral sores. They may also grow in the uterus.
Finding Relief
When you have genital herpes, there’s no way you can remove the virus out of your system. You will normally be given anti-viral medications, most of which are considered safe to take by pregnant women. You may also be provided with anti-suppressive therapies if you develop outbreaks every year. These therapies will prevent the activation of the virus. Don’t forget to boost your immune system to give yourself and the baby a better fighting chance against the virus.