Genital Herpes: Pregnancy

here is a possibility of complications if you have genital herpes during pregnancy. However, the chance of developing complications depends on whether you have had genital herpes attacks before, and what stage of pregnancy you’re at. However, most women with genital herpes have healthy babies and a normal vaginal birth.
If you get genital herpes when you’re pregnant, see your doctor or midwife immediately. They may refer you to a genito-urinary specialist for tests and treatment.
The infection can be passed on, for example:

• by skin-to-skin contact,
• through vaginal sex, anal sex and oral sex, and
• from a pregnant woman to her baby at the time of birth.

Sores or blisters develop around your genitals. When the sores have healed, the virus stays in your body and can become active again at any time. If you get genital herpes for the first time during your first three months of pregnancy, there’s a small risk of miscarriage.
If you get genital herpes for the first time later in your pregnancy, particularly within six weeks of giving birth, there won’t be enough time for your immune system to protect your baby. You’ll be offered a caesarean section for the birth, so that your baby doesn’t come into contact with any active sores.
With a vaginal birth, the risk of passing the infection to the baby is about 4 in 10 (40%). If a baby becomes infected at birth, the condition is called neonatal herpes. In the UK, this condition is very rare, affecting 1-2 in every 100,000 babies born. Neonatal herpes can cause infection in the baby’s skin, eyes, brain and other organs.
If you get genital herpes for the first time before you become pregnant, you’ll have antibodies to the virus. You’re unlikely to need a caesarean section, even if you get more attacks while you’re pregnant, because the antibodies will protect your unborn baby. The risk of passing an infection to your baby during a vaginal birth is very low, estimated to be around 1-3%.
However, if you have active sores when your labour starts, your doctor or midwife will discuss the birth with you, so you can decide how you want your baby to be born.
If you get genital herpes for the first time when you’re pregnant, you may be treated with antiviral medicine (aciclovir), to clear up the infection before your baby is born. There’s no evidence of risk to the baby from this medicine.
If you’ve already had genital herpes and you get more attacks during pregnancy, you may be treated with aciclovir from week 36 of your pregnancy until your baby is born.
If your condition is very painful, or you cannot pass urine, you may be admitted to hospital.