Prenatal sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing is routine, happens more than once, and can prevent serious complications when an STD is detected early. Many STDs don’t come with obvious symptoms. So, you can feel totally fine and still have an infection that may affect your pregnancy.
Prenatal STD screenings aren’t about assumptions; they’re about protection. Testing early and, if needed, later is one of the simplest ways to support an optimal pregnancy and a healthy baby.
April is STD Awareness Month, an annual nudge to stay on top of your sexual health, and, if you’re pregnant, prenatal care is a piece of that. Even if you’ve been tested in the past, pregnancy includes its own routine STD screening to help protect you and your baby.
Our experienced team of OB/GYN physicians at Women’s Health Services in Arlington or Grand Prairie, Texas, offers STD screening during pregnancy.
Your Women’s Health Services specialist lets you know how often STD testing should occur based on your individualized risk factors (age, lifestyle habits, etc.). Prenatal STD screenings may happen:
If you’ve recently been treated for an STD, you may need more frequent testing.
You might be tested for the following STDs during your pregnancy:
Your provider discusses your medical history, risk factors, lifestyle, and more to determine which prenatal tests are best suited for you.
The reason STD testing is crucial during pregnancy is that untreated sexually transmitted diseases can cause pregnancy complications. They can also spread from mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.
Untreated STDs may increase the risk of the following concerns in babies:
The good news is that even if you have an STD, taking precautions under medical supervision can help you avoid complications for you and your new addition.
Knowing if you have an STD, how to treat STDs during pregnancy, and ways to prevent pregnancy complications or spreading an STD to your baby are highly important.
You might be able to safely treat a curable STD during pregnancy or take precautions to avoid transmitting a non-curable STD to your baby during labor, delivery, and breastfeeding. Your Women’s Health Services specialist lets you know if it’s safe to breastfeed your baby with an STD or while undergoing STD treatment.
Take advantage of superior prenatal care at Women’s Health Services and ask about prenatal STD screenings. Contact our office nearest you by calling us or requesting an appointment online today.
