LANSING, Mich. (WSYM) -- April is National Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Month. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is using this as an opportunity to draw attention to the importance of testing for STD's during pregnancy.
If a pregnant woman has an STD infection, it might also affect the newborn baby. The transmission of STD's can be prevented if there is proper testing during pregnancy.
The MDHHS says that testing pregnant women for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis multiple times during pregnancy can lead to better health outcomes for both the woman and her baby.
“If a physician is aware of the woman’s infection before the baby is born, they can provide treatment to ensure the baby doesn’t become infected,” says Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for MDHHS.
MDHHS recommends that every pregnant woman be tested for HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis at their first prenatal visit. They also recommend more tests at 26-28 weeks.
Pregnant woman who have an STD, use or inject drugs, or have more than one sex partner should also be tested for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B at 36 weeks or at delivery even if their previous tests were negative.
Often people do not show signs of symptoms of having HIV, hepatitis B or syphilis. The MDHHS says this is why testing is important.
HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis can be transmitted to a baby. If the mother is infected the baby has a greater risk of becoming infected, or developing severe health problems because of infection.
Pregnant women with infections may need to begin treatment immediately. Early treatment reduces the risk of the baby being born with the infection.
The baby might need treatment at birth to protect them from getting the infection.
You can visit michigan.gov/hepatitisB, and michigan.gov/hivstd
