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Does Genital Herpes During Pregnancy Pass The Infection To The Baby?

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Posted on Tue, 27 May 2014
Question: Ok, I am XXXX and About a year and half ago, my ex-boyfriend knowingly gave me genital herpes. When I got my first outbreak, he convinced me it was hot tub rash. It was until last september that I recieved my second outbreak and found out I got genital herpes. I have been really stressed and upset and recieved three outbreaks in 4 months. I maintained a better life but I just recieved another outbreak a few days ago. I feel as if I'm pretty asymptomatic until I have lack of sleep or stressed out because after my first outbreak, i didn't recieve another one until almost a year later. Although planned parenthood said my strain isn't a big deal, and doctors that perscribed me medication said it's very manageable, I'm still having second thoughts. Am I able to have children? How often exactly do people shed the virus when they don't have symptoms? One thing I am confused on is, if I can never have unprotected sex again and have to use dental dams for the rest of my life (something I read online), how is it possible to have children?? Do I have to live like a leppor for the rest of my life??
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Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You will not have any problem in having children

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.

Thousands of women are living with genital herpes without any problem.
Passing the infection to babies is not so common as it is described.
I had seen and treated hundreds of women with Genital Herpes. But I am yet to see a single case of neonatal herpetic infection acquired during parturition.
But if the herpetic recurrence found after 32 weeks of pregnancy, Cesarean section is usually indicated. Duration of Viral shedding can not be defined exactly.

There are drugs available to suppress the recurrences and viral shedding. So you can have children without any problem. There is nothing to worry much.
Dr S.Murugan
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan

HIV AIDS Specialist

Practicing since :1974

Answered : 3110 Questions

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Does Genital Herpes During Pregnancy Pass The Infection To The Baby?

Brief Answer: You will not have any problem in having children Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome to HCM. Thanks for posting your query. Thousands of women are living with genital herpes without any problem. Passing the infection to babies is not so common as it is described. I had seen and treated hundreds of women with Genital Herpes. But I am yet to see a single case of neonatal herpetic infection acquired during parturition. But if the herpetic recurrence found after 32 weeks of pregnancy, Cesarean section is usually indicated. Duration of Viral shedding can not be defined exactly. There are drugs available to suppress the recurrences and viral shedding. So you can have children without any problem. There is nothing to worry much. Dr S.Murugan