Baby Making

The most common question of sexually active pregnant women is about STD. Women who engage in sexual activities during pregnancy are somewhat fearful of its effect to the unborn child.

There is little to worry if both partners are well protected during these activities, monogamous, and do not have any sexually transmitted disease prior to contact.

Sometimes even with the safest methods, women still become infected with a sexually transmitted disease. When this happens it is not only the pregnant woman who is at risk, the baby is in more danger since they do not have much protection form infections. For women who would like to pursue sexual relations even during pregnancy, it would be better to be reminded of the risk factors.

Sexually transmitted diseases such as bacterial vaginosis and genital herpes are common in the general population while syphilis and HIV are not likely to be found in the majority of infected women. STDs, in pregnant women or even those who are not, may cause cervical cancer, infertility, chronic hepatitis, and pelvic inflammatory diseases.

STDs effect on a pregnant woman is marked initially by infection then subsequently transferred to the unborn child. Some STD's can pass the placenta and infect the uterus. Another route of infection is through the baby's passage in the birth canal. HIV, another severe form of infection, can be passed on to the baby through breastfeeding by an infected mother.

Women with sexually transmitted diseases may experience a difficult pregnancy. Labor may come earlier than expected and rupture of membranes earlier than usual may cause uterine infection. While STD plagues a woman's health it does not spare even the unborn child. These children may have relatively low birth weight, conjunctivitis is present, still birth is quite common, pneumornia, neurologic damage, nenonatal sepsis acute hepatitis, blindness, deafness, chronic liver disease, meningitis and cirrhosis.

These diseases can be prevented by routine prenatal checkup. Earlier detection is the best way to combat sexually transmitted diseases. There are certain STD's that can be treated with antibiotics: gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis, Chlamydia, trichomoniasis and syphilis. HIV and genital herpes has no known cure, only antiviral medications may be given.

Condoms are the answer to these diseases. Consistent and proper use of latex will prevent destruction of the little body in the woman's womb. Sexually transmitted diseases can now be reduced. A monogamous relationship is something that health professionals also advocate to prevent STD's and spreading it eventually.