Does herpes simplex affect pregnancy?
Because the infection is common in women of reproductive age it can be contracted and transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy and the newborn. Herpes simplex virus is an important cause of neonatal infection, which can lead to death or long-term disabilities.
How do you treat herpes when pregnant?
Acyclovir (Zovirax) and valacyclovir (Valtrex) are the drugs most commonly used for herpes outbreak suppression and treatment during pregnancy. These drugs help reduce how active the virus is. They also help speed up lesion healing. They may also decrease the chance of active lesions at the time of labor.
What happens if you have a herpes outbreak while pregnant?
Herpes while pregnant takes some management. If you have your first outbreak of herpes in pregnancy, it is possible to transmit herpes to your baby. This means that your baby may be born prematurely or even die.
Can a baby get herpes while in the womb?
What is birth-acquired herpes? Birth-acquired herpes is a herpes virus infection that an infant gets during delivery or, less commonly, while still in the womb. The infection can also develop shortly after birth. Babies with birth-acquired herpes get the infection from mothers who are infected with genital herpes.
What causes herpes in pregnancy?
Women who have genital herpes before they become pregnant have a very low risk of transmitting the virus to their babies. This is because their immune systems make antibodies that are temporarily passed to the baby through the placenta.
Can herpes cause a miscarriage?
Genital herpes won’t put you at higher risk of a miscarriage but it can be passed onto babies during pregnancy. It can cause a serious illness called neonatal herpes.
How can I avoid getting herpes while pregnant?
How to prevent herpes in pregnancy
- Avoid skin-to-skin contact near your partner’s genitals or mouth during an active outbreak or whenever your partner feels one coming on.
- Use latex condoms when you have sex, even if your partner isn’t having an outbreak.
What are the symptoms of herpes in babies?
Contact your doctor immediately if there are any signs of HSV infection. These include low grade fever (100.4 degrees F., or more, rectally), poor feeding, irritability, and skin rash in the form of pimples or blisters, seizures or other similar symptoms that may develop within six weeks following birth.
Can I breastfeed if I have herpes?
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) in infants can be severe. Mothers with HSV can continue to breastfeed if no lesions are present on the breasts and if lesions elsewhere on the body are carefully and fully covered.
Can I have a healthy pregnancy with herpes?
While neonatal herpes is a serious condition, it is also very rare. Less than 0.1% of babies born in the United States each year get neonatal herpes. By contrast, some 20-25% of pregnant women have genital herpes. This means that most women with genital herpes give birth to healthy babies.
Can herpes cause birth defects?
In rare cases, if you get an initial herpes infection during your first trimester, the virus could pass through the placenta and cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects. Herpes can also be transmitted to your baby after birth, and the complications can be severe.
Is it safe to have a baby if you have herpes?
When a woman has been infected with herpes before getting pregnant, there is no danger to the baby at all. The only time herpes can affect a baby is if the first set of herpes outbreak occurs during the pregnancy. In this case, your doctor will provide you with antiviral medication, which will not affect your baby.
How does herpes affect birth?
ANSWER. Outbreaks of genital herpes during pregnancy have been associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, and herpes infection that can cause severe brain injury and possible blindness in the baby. In most cases, women with herpes give birth to healthy babies. If you have herpes and plan to have children, talk to your doctor.
When is herpes not contagious?
Genital herpes is generally not very contagious when there is no outbreak. Many couples have no problems fro many years as long as they avoid sex when there is no outbreak and no prodromal symptoms.
What over the counter cream is best for genital herpes?
ProsurX is one of the best over-the-counter topical medicines for herpes. In particular, it’s used for soothing, healing and preventing oral and genital herpes.