Herpes And Pregnancy - Who Else Wants To Know The Truth?

The main concern is whether herpes can cause harm to your pregnancy or not. The subject of herpes and pregnancy is one that you have to know! At least, every adult should realize about these facts.

What is Herpes?

It is actually an STD (sexually transmitted disease). And when it comes to STD, there are many types of STDs such as genital warts, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV/AIDS and so on. Herpes is one type of STD.

Here's the catch

It can be caused by 2 types of viruses, namely the HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV stands for herpes simplex viruses. The funny thing is, not everyone will show symptoms if they have/contract herpes. But for the others who do, here are the symptoms

Symptoms of herpes

• itching or even burning at first
• then visible small and painful blisters appear
• these blisters tend to last between 1 to 3 weeks long. These blisters are what you call the herpes outbreak
• the good news is, these blisters tend to go away but can still return in weeks' or months' time, if you still have herpes. Having this said, the subsequent (2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.) herpes outbreak (blisters) are less worse and do not last as long as the first outbreak

How can you get herpes

Where does it come from? Herpes is a viral infection. This means you can get it if you get into contact with another person through the skin or kissing. It gets transferred from bodily skin to skin contact.

What are the effects of herpes, especially on your pregnancy?

Herpes affecting the genital area can cause painful sores. Some people even suffer more complications if their immune systems are weak.

Here's the thing. Herpes can cause deadly infections IF at the time of delivery, you have herpes. This only applies to vaginal delivery. If you are trying to deliver your baby and have herpes at the same time, your doctor will perform a Caesarean delivery (or C-section), which is retrieving the baby through your stomach. However, infection rate through herpes during delivery is also extremely low. Therefore, you rarely hear cases about women having herpes causing their babies' death. Still, doctors will perform a C-section if you have herpes during delivery to be 100% safe.

Can you cure herpes?

The answer is NO. Why? Because there is no treatment for it, as of yet. However, you can still consume medications that can shorten the outbreaks (blisters). The only way is to prevent it from happening at the first place. How? Don't have sex at the first place, not even getting into foreplay sex because skin to skin contact is what causes herpes to spread.

Fact - Herpes occurs in about 20% of pregnant women

If you don't know already, now you know. Therefore, don't think you might not get herpes simply because you have never been infected before with and types of STD. But what you should be concerned is the infection rate of your newborns. Out of the 20% pregnant women with herpes,

Truth  - Herpes by itself does not cause miscarriage or infertility, but...

But, chances are, if you have herpes, you might have contracted other STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) that could compromise your pregnancy. In addition, remember that herpes during vaginal delivery is dangerous? That's another indirect risk that herpes puts on your pregnancy.

What about men who have genital herpes? Are they safe to be fathers?

The problem is, the symptoms of herpes do not show in most people, including both males and females. So, often times, people do not know if they have herpes themselves, which makes it an "invisible disease".

Having that said, it is best you seek your doctor or gynaecologist when your wife is pregnant. We are talking about sex during pregnancy here. The greatest danger is when you transmit herpes to your wife during the 3rd trimester (last phase) of her pregnancy. At this stage, herpes that is transmitted can cause severe complications.

Therefore, try to abstain from sex when your wife is pregnant. At the very least, screen yourself for the disease first before you engage in the act. The subject of herpes and pregnancy is really an important for any adult couple that's not to be taken lightly. If in doubt at all, please seek your doctor immediately to seek professional medical advice.