As if pregnancy wasn’t already stressful enough without having to worry about
a genital warts outbreak at the same time.
The good news is that having HPV does not affect a woman’s fertility or
ability to carry a pregnancy to term.
If a woman has a history of HPV then this should be brought to the attention
of the doctors early in the pregnancy. Your doctor may be inclined to run some
additions tests or a pap smear just to check that things are okay.
Genital warts are a disease that is usually transmitted through sexual
intercourse. In women, they grow on the exterior and interior of the vagina,
uterus, cervix, and the region around the anus. They occur in women who are
infected by the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and the fact that they are
highly-contagious makes them a major cause of concern for pregnant women.
Women who have a history of HPV infection or genital warts may experience a
worsening of the symptoms of the disease during pregnancy, because their immune
system will be weakened when they are conceiving. As such, their genital warts
may increase in size during pregnancy. Depending on where the warts are located,
they may result in complications during delivery. If large warts develop on the
inside of the vagina, they may cause obstruction in the birth canal, and this
makes it very difficult for the mother to deliver the baby. In some cases, the
delivery of a child can cause the warts to hemorrhage. When vaginal birth is
impossible due to too much bleeding or obstruction in the birth canal, a
caesarian delivery will be performed.
Pregnant women who have genital warts may also pass the disease to their
babies, either during pregnancy or childbirth. Although the disease is not
curable, it usually does not result in serious health problems for babies. In
rare cases, babies of pregnant women with genital warts develop a condition
called laryngeal papillomatosis, which can be life-threatening. This disease
occurs when warts grow in the throat and mouth of a baby, and the baby may
experience difficulty in breathing when the warts become larger. Laryngeal
papillomatosis is usually transmitted because of an infected birth canal, and
symptoms may not show until the baby reaches the age of three. The most
effective form of treatment for this condition is laser surgery, which has to be
performed at regular intervals to prevent the warts from obstructing the child’s
breathing. Some physicians may also recommend Interferon therapy, which has been
proven to be effective in slowing down the growth of the disease.
Pregnant women with genital warts should not use over-the-counter treatments
without a physician’s recommendation. Ordinary treatment methods that work for
ordinary women with genital warts can be harmful to pregnant women. Most of the
over-the-counter medications for treating genital warts containsalicylic acid, a
substance that is detrimental to the health of unborn babies. Certain
prescription medicines, such as podofilox, are easily absorb-able through the
skin, and they can result in birth defects. One of the effective ways to treat
genital warts is cyrotherapy, a method that uses extreme cold to destroy warts.
It is important to seek advice from a doctor before trying out any treatment
method.
Since having genital warts can put a newborn baby’s health at risk, it is
advisable that women take the necessary precautions to prevent genital warts.
Safe and healthy sexual practices can greatly reduce the chance of contracting
the disease. Those who have sex partners with genital wart problems should avoid
sexual contact with their partners until the warts are eliminated. A healthy
diet and lifestyle can also prevent genital warts, because it helps to
strengthen the immune system.
Some strains of HPV are known to have a higher risk of affecting cervical
cancer. This is due to HPV causing changes in a woman’s cervical cells.
Recently introduced vaccinations, such as gardasil, can protect against some
of the strains of HPV responsible for cervical cancer. Although most effective
in females between the ages of puberty and 25 it is an option that should be
discussed with your general practitioner first.
Cancers during pregnancy do occur but are extremely rare and in most cases do
not affect the health of the fetus directly.
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