Should I Get Tested for STDs If I'm Pregnant? - North Care Women's Clinic

STD testing is commonly recommended during pregnancy, even when you don’t have symptoms.

Many sexually transmitted diseases can be present without causing noticeable signs, and some infections can affect your pregnancy or be passed to a baby during pregnancy or delivery.

North Care Women’s Clinic offers free STD testing, with a nurse completing a health assessment beforehand to determine which tests are appropriate for you. Contact us to schedule your free appointment.

Pregnancy Doesn’t Protect You From an STD

You can acquire an STD while pregnant just as you can at any other time.

That’s one reason prenatal providers routinely ask about sexual history and recommend testing for certain infections. You may feel completely healthy and still have an infection because many STDs cause mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

When symptoms do occur, they can include burning with urination, unusual discharge or bleeding, sores or bumps, pelvic discomfort, pain during sex, or fever.

Testing is the only way to know for sure.

Some Infections Can Affect Pregnancy

Different STDs carry different risks.

Untreated infections may increase the chance of problems such as premature birth, low birth weight, or infection in a newborn. Syphilis can pass to a developing baby during pregnancy, while infections such as gonorrhea or chlamydia can create complications for the mother and baby if they aren’t identified and treated.

Identifying an infection allows your healthcare provider to recommend appropriate treatment, monitoring, or other steps for pregnancy.

What Testing Looks Like at North Care

North Care Women’s Clinic offers several types of testing at no cost.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing is available for men and women using urine tests and oral swabs. Women can also be tested for trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis. Treatment is provided for all of these STDs.

Testing for HIV and syphilis is available for both men and women through a blood draw. North Care provides testing for those infections and can make treatment referrals when needed.

A nurse will complete a health assessment during your appointment and determine which tests should be offered based on your circumstances.

Make STD Testing Part of Your Pregnancy Care

You don’t have to wait for symptoms or a known exposure before asking about testing.

If you’re pregnant, recently learned you may be pregnant, or simply have questions about your STD status, getting tested can provide useful information for both your health and your pregnancy.

Contact North Care Women’s Clinic to schedule your free appointment. A nurse can review your health history, discuss which tests make sense for you, and explain what happens after your results come back.

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