Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common type of sexually transmitted infection in the United States, according to the Baby Center website. Women are screened during an annual gynecological exam for abnormal cells on the cervix, which are sometimes caused by HPV. A pregnant woman who has HPV, whether she knows it or not, has a small risk of complications during her pregnancy. Some of these are more concerning for the baby than the mother.
Bleeding and Enlarged Warts
WomensHealth.gov suggests that most women who had genital warts from HPV in the past are free of problems during pregnancy and birth. Women who experience an outbreak of warts during pregnancy may have some worsened symptoms, including bleeding. The warts are typically small and in clusters on the vagina and surrounding tissues. During pregnancy the warts can grow larger than normal. The Baby Center website suggests that this may be due to the extra vaginal discharge that occurs in pregnancy providing the virus with an optimal environment for thriving. Pregnant women also experience hormonal and immune system changes that can make it easier for the virus to become active and produce warts.
Baby Contracts HPV
HPV is typically transmitted through skin-to-skin and genital contact, according to WomensHealth.gov. During a vaginal delivery, the baby can contract the HPV from his mother, but this is happens rarely. If the virus infects the baby, he can develop warts in the throat or the voice box, called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. A baby infected with HPV is likely to recover without complications.
Blocked Birth Canal
In rare cases, warts grow large enough and exist in great enough numbers that the birth canal is blocked. When this occurs, a Caesarean section may be ordered.
