IVF STD Testing & Pre-Pregnancy STD Testing

No, STD tests cannot detect pregnancy. Whilst the same samples are used in pregnancy and STD tests (urine and blood), the tests are conducted separately. If you’d like a blood or urine test to confirm pregnancy, please consult your GP.

Women are recommended to test for a number of STDs before or during pregnancy that could cause harm to the baby or herself if left untreated. These include HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis when testing through the NHS. However, we’d recommend undergoing a Comprehensive Screen to test for all STDs, as many STDs not tested for through the NHS could cause birth and pregnancy complications.

There are a number of sexually transmitted infections which could impact your ability to get pregnant. Some STDs can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) if they go untreated for a long period of time. This can cause scarring in the womb and fallopian tubes, which can both prevent pregnancy or cause ectopic pregnancies to occur.

Although some are more damaging than others, all STIs have the ability to cause problems when trying for a baby and during pregnancy. Below is a rundown of how the key STDs can have a negative effect.

Gonorrhoea

A mother that has untreated gonorrhoea whilst pregnant has a heightened risk of miscarriage. At birth, the child is at a heightened risk of catching a serious blood infection, joint infection or even blindness.

Chlamydia

As well as having the potential to cause pelvic inflammatory disease which can impact your ability to get pregnant, chlamydia can increase the risk of miscarriage and preterm delivery. If passed on to the child, it may develop an eye infection (conjunctivitis) or a lung infection (pneumonia).

Syphilis

Syphilis is easily passed on during pregnancy and can be extremely dangerous to your unborn child. It can cause serious infections which may be fatal and will often cause the baby to be delivered prematurely. Infected infants that survive may develop a range of long-term health complications

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis is a liver infection that can be transmitted to a baby via the placenta. The infected newborn can then become a carrier of the disease which can have serious long-term health implications.

Herpes

Herpes is perfectly safe until the baby is ready to be delivered. If the mother is having a herpes outbreak then a caesarian may be performed in order to prevent the virus from from spreading to the child. Herpes can be fatal for newborn children, including when kissing them if cold sores are present around the mouth.

HIV

Thanks to advances in medication HIV can be suppressed in a way that it will not be passed on to your baby during pregnancy. However, HIV can go undiagnosed for many years so it’s important that you know you have it and you’re receiving treatment before trying for a baby otherwise the consequences can be serious for your child.

Mycoplasma Genitalium

This is not always tested for on the NHS, but Mycoplasma Genitalium can have a similar impact to chlamydia if left untreated for a long period. Mycoplasma genitalium increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease which can cause damage to the womb and fallopian tubes.

Ureaplasma

Ureaplasma is a bacteria found in the vagina of many women. They can cause a number of complications during pregnancy and may be linked to preterm births.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is rarely tested as part of routine NHS screening. It can increase the risk of preterm pregnancy and on rare occasions be passed to your baby at birth.

The impact an STD will have on pregnancy depends on a number of relevant factors. On many occasions, you’ll be treated for a sexually transmitted infection and the diagnosis will have no overall impact. However, each person is different. Some factors which are important include: 

What STD it is – each one is different. Some may carry a greater risk of infertility, others may cause lasting damage, whilst some may be untreatable and require lifelong management.

How long you’ve had it – if you’ve been infected for a long time it’s going to be a greater risk to fertility. This is why regular testing is always advisable.

Has it caused damage to your reproductive organs? – some STIs can have long-term effects that include pelvic inflammatory disease. This can scar your womb and fallopian tube meaning pregnancy becomes difficult.

Is it a lifelong condition? – conditions like HIV require careful planning and treatment when trying for a baby to ensure that the virus doesn’t pass to the baby. Pregnancy is still possible.

A miscarriage is an extremely emotional and stressful time for all concerned. Whilst STD tests won’t definitively tell you why you lost your baby they can help you gain some clarity as part of an overall medical investigation. There is a range of sexually transmitted infections that can go undiagnosed, but still, cause problems. Our pre-pregnancy profiles test for all potentially problematic infections.