Pregnancy is loaded with health minefields that can turn a joyous time into a season of danger, including sexually transmitted infections. A 2024 article published in the Journal of Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine reports that “There are no explicit recommendations on when to perform STI screening tests during pregnancy,” despite the intense adverse effects that they can cause. Sexually transmitted diseases can potentially impact a fetus in utero and during the delivery process. Obtaining information about their status can help a pregnant person seek treatment before adverse effects appear.
They should be screened for these infections routinely as a part of any sexual hygiene routine. Those who are expecting should screen for them prior to becoming pregnant, during the pregnancy, and before delivery takes place.
The Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases argues that frequent testing could lower the instances of sexually transmitted diseases negatively impacting pregnancies. According to an article they published in 2020, “The prevalence of and likely adverse outcomes associated with curable STIs in pregnant women suggest that etiologic STI screening of all pregnant women followed by targeted treatment might be beneficial.”
This is especially important in our community because, according to a 2022 study published by the Journal of Nursing for Women’s Health, Black women were “more likely to report having an STI over the course of their lifetime.”
Many sexually transmitted infections are curable. Some can be treated during pregnancy with minimal risks to the fetus.
According to the Journal of Transmitted Infections, “Curable STIs are associated with maternal morbidity, preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth.” These are deeply serious side effects.
In 2014, the Journal of Clinical Gynecology & Obstetrics advocated for “recognition and treatment of STDs in a timely manner, especially in an urgent care setting, by the health care professional to prevent both maternal and neonatal complications.”
The Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) reports that sexually transmitted infections can cause “Eye infection, pneumonia, infection in the baby’s blood, brain damage,” and other symptoms. According to the Journal of Sexual Transmitted Diseases, “Sexually transmitted infections (STI), such as chlamydial, gonorrheal, and trichomonal infections, are prevalent in pregnant women in many countries and are widely reported to be associated with increased risk of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes.”
Here are three reasons why you need to have complete and thorough testing for sexually transmitted diseases administered if you are expecting.
1. STIs Can Cause Premature Births
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines preterm birth as a birth that occurs prior to 37 weeks of gestation. “Globally, prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 years,” according to WHO.
Premature birth can have lasting effects on the physical and mental health of a child.
It is considered a chronic condition because of its serious impact on health outcomes. According to Frontiers In Pediatrics, “There are numerous long-term medical, educational, and social consequences associated with preterm birth,” and “premature newborns are at risk of acquiring chronic noncommunicable diseases later in life due to interference with organ system development during the in-utero and perinatal period.”
2. Your Sexual Partner Could Be Infected With An STI Without Knowing
The pregnant person is not the only one who needs to be monitored in order to prevent adverse effects. Anyone who they are engaging with sexually must be screened and treated as well. Sexually transmitted diseases can remain dormant for long periods of time, so it is possible that someone can be infected and pass on their infection without being aware.
StatPearls states, “Early screening and recognition of STIs are key to preventing disease spread, morbidity, and mortality. These infections are more frequently underrecognized and have a higher incidence in medically underserved populations.”
“Treating partners reduces the likelihood of re-infecting the index patient and decreases the burden of infection in communities because the partners are often asymptomatic and otherwise unlikely to access care,” according to the Journal of Transmitted Infections.
“Partner notification is essential to halt transmission and prevent reinfection,” according to the Journal of Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine.
3. Some STIs Can Be Potentially Passed Through Breastmilk
Breastfeeding presents an opportunity for bonding. It can be incredibly beneficial in other ways as well. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reports that “breastfeeding provides many health benefits for the mother and her child. Breast milk is the best food for newborns, containing all the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.”
“It can aid mental growth and block the development of certain food allergies.
However, the presence of sexually transmitted infections can make breastfeeding more complicated, according to the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Getting screened for sexually transmitted infections allows a pregnant person to obtain treatment and create a plan to breastfeed or find alternatives that work for their family safely.
The post Pregnant? You Should Get an STD Test appeared first on Black Health Matters!.
