AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is one of the most
frightening STDs today. Many women in the United States are
living with HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus that causes
AIDS), and many do not know it. While unprotected sex is still
the most common method of contracting the virus, intravenous
drug use has become another frequent source of infection.
Pregnant women who have the virus can pass it on to their babies
during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the March of Dimes both
recommend that all pregnant women be offered counseling and
voluntary testing for HIV. Moms-to-be who have the virus can now
get treatment to protect their unborn babies. New drug
treatments have been shown to reduce the risk of a treated
mother's passing HIV on to her baby to 2 percent or less,
compared with 15 to 25 percent of untreated mothers. Women who
have high levels of the virus in their blood may also need
cesarean delivery. You can protect your baby fr