If you are planning to become pregnant, or are already
pregnant, it is wise to be aware of the various dangers
and risks which can affect your unborn child. And
one of these risks is to become infected with genital
herpes. If you are pregnant and you do not have genital
herpes, be very careful not to have sexual intercourse
with anyone who could possibly have herpes. The infection
could be passed on to you even if there are no visible
or painful sores so using a condom is a wise precaution.
If such sores are apparent, then sexual intercourse
should be avoided completely until the sores heal.
Genital
herpes is a sexually transmitted disease and the
symptoms of this disease can include vaginal discharge,
painful urination as well as itching and painful sores
in the genital regions. An initial outbreak of the
disease may also produce flu like symptoms such as
a fever and aches and pains. The big problem with
genital herpes is that there is no cure.
If you are searching for
a natural and safe Genital
Herpes Treatment, try H
Away and H-Prevention
- two proven effective formulas for preventing genital
herpes virus outbreaks and eliminating genital herpes
sores and blisters - including cold sores.
How Genital Herpes affects Pregnancy
It is very important to try and avoid an outbreak of genital herpes at the time of labor and delivery of your new born baby because the risk of your baby getting herpes is so much higher. It is even higher if you have your first genital herpes outbreak near the time of delivery. If you are already suffering from genital herpes or you develop genital herpes during the pregnancy, then you should tell your doctor so that he can monitor both the pregnancy and the herpes to avoid such an outbreak late in the pregnancy. He may well want you to commence treatment with antiviral medication. If, in spite of all the precautions, such an outbreak does occur close to labor, then your baby will probably be delivered by cesarean section which would greatly reduce the risk of the virus being passed on.
How Genital Herpes affects newborn Babies
Genital herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex and if a newborn baby contacts the herpes infection this in turn can cause meningitis (a serious illness which inflames the membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord), seizures and brain damage and even death. The name given to this herpes is neonatal herpes. In most cases, it is transmitted when the baby comes into contact with the virus in the birth canal during delivery. Although neonatal herpes can have very serious consequences for a newborn baby, these cases are rare especially when the mother has known for a long time of her infection. These mothers provide their babies with a natural antibody against the virus. It is the fear of these possible devastating results of the neonatal herpes that cause so much concern although the actual risk is very small.
If you are pregnant and you know you have genital herpes, then it may be a comfort to you that this knowledge is an important first step in protecting your baby. Medical research has shown that most cases of neonatal herpes occur when mothers have no idea that they are in fact infected with genital herpes. Also compared to all the other possible risks in pregnancy, the risk of neonatal herpes is small.
Resources
• www.herpes.com
• www.familydoctor.org
