Pregnancy & Genital Warts
Human papillomavirus, the sexually transmitted infection that causes genital warts, affects more people than any other STI in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Genital warts during pregnancy usually is not serious, but it could pose risks to your unborn baby.
Other People Are Reading
-
The Facts
-
HPV causes two types of infection: high-risk and low-risk HPV. High-risk HPV can cause cervical cancer in pregnant women; low-risk HPV infection can cause genital warts during pregnancy.
Growth
-
Genital warts during pregnancy often increase in size or bleed more, a result of your suppressed immune system and the increased vaginal fluids that accompany pregnancy.
-
Risk
-
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, if you have genital warts during pregnancy, you could pass the infection on to your baby during a vaginal delivery, possibly resulting in the rare development of warts in your baby's throat.
Treatment
-
Since most cases of genital warts during pregnancy resolve without treatment, your doctor may decide against treatment during gestation. Other treatment options include wart removal through freezing, a laser or surgery.
Prevention/Solution
-
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that the best way to prevent genital warts during pregnancy is to have sex only with a partner who has had sex only with you.
-
