Mother-to-child STIs transmission

​​​​​​HIV. All women must carry out a HIV test during pregnancy. HIV infection can be transmitted to the newborn during pregnancy, at the time of delivery or through breast milk. There are currently some very effective measures available to prevent transmission to the baby. All pregnant women infected by HIV are recommended to follow combination antiretroviral therapy and maintain an undetectable viral load in blood for as long as possible. In the case of optimal infection control, vaginal birth is an option, although in certain situations a caesarean section is recommended. Breastfeeding is contraindicated in all cases of a HIV-infected mother. Pregnant women with HIV infection can present a higher risk of complications, consequently they should be managed by specialised units and in coordination with the doctor directing treatment for the HIV infection.

Hepatitis B and C. The possibility of hepatitis B infection must be studied in all pregnant women. It is mostly likely to be transmitted to the newborn during childbirth, although in some cases it occurs during pregnancy. The newborn has to be treated and administered the first dose of a vaccine within a few hours of birth to avoid becoming infected. Some women may also require treatment during the third trimester of the pregnancy to prevent infecting the baby or for their own health. Hepatitis C infection must be ruled out during pregnancy in women who present certain risk factors (a tattoo or piercing, drug users, recipient of a blood transfusion or transplant in the past, partner infected with hepatitis C, liver dysfunction). Hepatitis C is transmitted to the baby in approximately 3% of cases. There are treatments that can cure the infection if administered after childbirth.

Syphilis. A syphilis test must be carried out at least once during all pregnancies or every trimester in high-risk cases. Besides affecting the mother, syphilis can be transmitted to the unborn baby during pregnancy and result in congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis can lead to miscarriage or foetal death, or potentially cause certain malformations and intellectual disability in the newborn. More active cases of syphilis present a greater risk of harming the baby. A very effective treatment is available for both the mother and foetus which prevents or cures congenital syphilis. Pregnant women who test positive for syphilis and have not been treated previously must receive treatment during the pregnancy. Patients should use a condom and their sexual partners be tested for syphilis to prevent reinfection.

Genital herpes. Pregnant women with a history of genital herpes infection often suffer from a new episode (recurrence) at some point in the pregnancy. The virus can be transmitted to the newborn during childbirth, particularly in cases in which the first episode of herpes occurs at the time of delivery or in the preceding weeks. The newborn’s infection could be very severe and appear a few days after birth, manifesting with skin lesions, eye lesions or central nervous system compromise. A caesarean section can protect the baby from infection and so they are recommended if herpes lesions are present at the time of delivery and in women who were first infected in the last few weeks of the pregnancy. Pregnant women affected by an episode of genital herpes (either the first or a recurrence) are treated throughout the final weeks of pregnancy and up until childbirth to ensure they are herpes-free at the time of birth and vaginal delivery is therefore a safe option. 

As for all women, the use of condoms is recommended to prevent sexual transmission from the onset of any discomfort until the ulcers have been cured and particularly if their sexual partner presents lesions.

Chlamydia and gonococcal infection. Both infections can go undetected in women, including during pregnancy. Apart from the possible complications this can imply, both infections may also be transmitted to the newborn during childbirth, primarily causing a potentially very severe eye infection and sometimes a lung infection in the case of Chlamydia or a systemic infection for gonococcal infection. All newborns should be treated with an eye ointment immediately after childbirth to prevent eye infections, regardless of whether it was a vaginal or caesarean delivery. Furthermore, many pregnancy monitoring protocols recommend screening for these two infections using a sample of vaginal discharge in the first and third trimesters in at-risk expectant mothers (under 25 years old, sexually promiscuous, recent change of partner, etc.) so those who test positive can be treated.

Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV infection may be more apparent during pregnancy and infected women often present genital warts or condylomas, or these grow and become more visible. Condylomas sometimes disappear spontaneously after childbirth. HPV infection is considered low risk for both the foetus and the newborn, the pregnancy can be managed according to normal protocols and a vaginal delivery is possible even when condylomas are present. A caesarean section is only indicated if the condylomas are bleeding or large enough to interfere with delivery. If the genital warts grow, bleed or cause discomfort they can be treated during pregnancy but many of the usual creams should be avoided and it is better to remove them with laser treatment or by applying a cold compress. A condom should be used whenever condylomas are present.

Women with a cancer or precancerous lesion caused by HPV (diagnosed by histology or biopsy) should see a gynaecologist before becoming pregnant.