at your first prenatal visit your health care provider will perform standard blood tests to check for several sexually transmitted diseases (stds) including: hiv: your baby can contract hiv from you while in your uterus during delivery or through your breast milk. chlamydia: untreated it can cause preterm labor preterm rupture of membranes and postpartum endometritis (inflammation of the lining of the uterus). babies who are infected during birth can suffer from pneumonia or conjunctivitis which can lead to blindness if untreated. gonorrhea: untreated gonorrhea can cause eye problems for a newborn often leading to blindness. hepatitis b: if your baby is infected he or she may suffer serious liver problems. syphilis: a pregnant woman can transmit syphilis to the fetus leading to skin lesions or problems with the liver spleen bones or nervous system.
how do stds affect pregnancy?