STI testing during pregnancy

In the Netherlands every pregnant person is offered a standard blood test for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B early in pregnancy. This happens through your midwife or GP, as part of prenatal screening. The aim is simple: find an infection in time, so you and your care provider can act. Other STIs, such as chlamydia, are not part of that standard panel.

Many people do not know this happens as standard. I think that is a shame, because it is one of the calmest forms of certainty there is.

Which STIs are tested as standard in pregnancy?

The standard prenatal screening in the Netherlands tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. According to the RIVM, every pregnant person is offered this at the first check. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomonas are not part of it as standard; those are only tested on indication or at your own request.

This table describes practice, it is not medical advice. What is offered in your case is something you discuss with your midwife.

Why does STI testing in pregnancy matter?

Some STIs can be passed to the baby during pregnancy or birth. That is exactly why testing happens early, so a care provider can think along in time. How large a risk is differs per infection and per situation.

For syphilis this is well studied. A large review (Gomez et al., Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2013) showed that untreated syphilis during pregnancy was linked to a raised chance of serious outcomes for the baby. Timely detection and care therefore matter.

What if you have an STI during pregnancy?

An STI during pregnancy mainly means: now it is known, and your midwife or doctor can think along about the next steps. For many STIs there is care that is also possible during pregnancy. What fits is something your care provider always judges personally.

Want to know more about the stages and signs of syphilis, read syphilis: stages, early signs and testing. If you are unsure about a symptom, do not delay and call your midwife.

Can you get checked before you become pregnant?

Yes, and for many couples it is a calm moment to do it. An STI check before a pregnancy gives clarity at a time when there is no time pressure yet. What that looks like is explained in STI testing when trying to conceive.

If you want an anonymous check before a pregnancy, with us you can do, for example, an HIV test or a hepatitis screening. Which STI test fits which situation is explained in our guide which STI test do you need, and when?. If you are already pregnant, follow the screening through your midwife.

Frequently asked questions about STI testing and pregnancy

Do I have to ask for an STI test myself when pregnant? The test for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B is offered as standard through your midwife. If you want to be tested for something else as well, discuss that with them.

Is the standard screening compulsory? No, you may decline the screening. Your midwife explains what it involves, so you can make your own choice.

Can I test anonymously with you during pregnancy? Our test is meant for those who want a check outside of care, for example beforehand. If you are already pregnant, run the screening through your midwife, so everything belongs to your file.

What if I had an STI before my pregnancy? Discuss that with your midwife at the first check. That way they can see whether anything is needed.

Does an earlier test protect me for the whole pregnancy? Not automatically. If you are at new risk during pregnancy, always discuss that with your care provider.

Every STI result we provide is assessed by a BIG-registered doctor. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, follow the care and screening through your midwife or GP; this article is explanation, not medical advice.

Sources

• RIVM, Pregnancy screening for infectious diseases
• Soa Aids Nederland, STIs and pregnancy
• Thuisarts.nl, Pregnancy
• Gomez GB et al. Untreated maternal syphilis and adverse outcomes of pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bull World Health Organ. 2013 (PMID 23476094).