Management of Genital Herpes in Pregnancy: ACOG Practice Bulletin Summary, Number 220

Obstet Gynecol. 2020 May;135(5):1236-1238. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003841.

Abstract

Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection during pregnancy poses a risk to the developing fetus and newborn. Genital herpes is common in the United States. Among 14- to 49-year-old females, the prevalence of HSV-2 infection is 15.9%. However, the prevalence of genital herpes infection is higher than that because genital herpes is also caused by HSV-1 (1). Because many women of childbearing age are infected or will be infected with HSV, the risk of maternal transmission of this virus to the fetus or newborn is a major health concern. This document has been revised to include that for women with a primary or nonprimary first-episode genital HSV infection during the third trimester of pregnancy, cesarean delivery may be offered due to the possibility of prolonged viral shedding.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cesarean Section / methods
  • Female
  • Herpes Genitalis / epidemiology
  • Herpes Genitalis / therapy*
  • Herpes Genitalis / transmission
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / therapy*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology*
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third
  • Prenatal Care / standards*
  • Prevalence
  • Simplexvirus
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents