Sexually Transmitted Infections

Talking openly about STDs, pregnancy, and breastfeeding

Disclaimer: This page houses important information and resources pertaining to sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, including links to our evidence-based Fact Sheets. However, the resources here should not replace the care and advice of a medical professional.

Nearly 1 out of every 2 women will experience a sexually transmitted infection (STI) at some point in their life. For those impacted by an STI while they are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding, there are some special considerations. STIs (also called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs) can be harmful for both mom and baby. STIs can also be tricky – many have no symptoms or may only cause mild symptoms, so it’s possible to have an infection and not even know it. If left untreated, STIs can cause or lead to significant health issues, such as infertility, pregnancy complications, organ damage, and certain types of cancer. Getting tested and treated for any STIs is thus critical for both your health and the health of your baby.

“Pregnancy does not provide women or their babies protection against STIs. Therefore, pregnant people should ask their doctors to test for STIs, as part of their routine care. This is important to prevent serious health complications.

— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

During pregnancy, certain types of STIs (including HIV and syphilis) cross the placenta and infect the baby in the womb. Other STIs (like chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, and hepatitis B) can infect the baby during delivery, as the baby passes through the birth canal. How an STI affects the baby during and after pregnancy varies based on the infection. For example, syphilis infection during pregnancy can result in premature birth, low birth weight, or even stillbirth; after delivery, a newborn infected with syphilis (called congenital syphilis) could have an enlarged liver and/or spleen, problems with their bones or teeth, or brain and nerve problems like blindness or deafness. Similarly, gonorrhea infection can cause miscarriage and premature birth during pregnancy, and after delivery it can cause eye problems that lead to blindness in the infant. 

Reference: CDC Sexually Transmitted Infection

For breastfeeding women, the story is a little different. HIV is the only STI that is detectable in human milk. However, there are medications available that can keep people with HIV healthy if they are taken as prescribed. These medications suppress (or lower) the amount of virus in the body, which significantly reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to a breastfed infant. People with HIV who want to breastfeed should talk with their healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding relative to their health. Aside from HIV, women with an STI that causes open sores on the body (such as syphilis) can breastfeed as long as the baby or the breast pump equipment do not touch a sore.

We know STIs can be an uncomfortable topic, but for you health and the health of your baby it’s worth pushing through any discomfort and talking with your healthcare provider. Our experts are also available to answer any questions you may have about STIs and how they — or the medications used to treat them — could affect your pregnancy or your breastfed baby. You can also visit our library of resources below.