Which infections can cause miscarriage

After the membranes rupture, labor often soon follows. If labor does It can also cause eye inflammation conjunctivitis in newborns Conjunctivitis in Newborns Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white of the eye.

Conjunctivitis is caused by bacteria, viruses, or a reaction to chemicals Gonorrhea Gonorrhea Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which infect the lining of the urethra, cervix, rectum, and throat or the membranes that cover the front Syphilis Syphilis Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum.

Syphilis can occur in three stages of symptoms, separated by periods of apparent good health. It begins Syphilis in the fetus Syphilis in Newborns Syphilis is an infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum.

It causes serious problems in infants infected before birth. Syphilis is caused by bacteria. Serious complications may develop Pregnant women are routinely tested for syphilis early in the pregnancy. Usually, treatment of syphilis during pregnancy cures both mother and fetus.

Human immunodeficiency Experts recommend that women with HIV infection take antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. For some women with HIV infection, cesarean delivery, planned in advance, may further reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby. Pregnancy does not seem to speed up the progression of HIV infection in women. Genital herpes Herpes Simplex Virus HSV Infections Herpes simplex virus infection causes recurring episodes of small, painful, fluid-filled blisters on the skin, mouth, lips cold sores , eyes, or genitals.

This very contagious viral infection Babies who are infected with herpes Herpes Simplex Virus HSV Infection in Newborns Herpes simplex virus infection usually causes only annoying, recurring blisters in healthy adults but can cause severe infection in newborns.

Newborns may become infected at birth or after birth A herpes infection in babies can also damage other internal organs and cause skin and mouth sores, permanent brain damage, or even death. If women develop herpes sores in the genital area late in pregnancy or if herpes first develops during late pregnancy, women are usually advised to give birth by cesarean delivery, so that the virus is not transmitted to the baby.

If no sores are present and herpes develops earlier, the risk of transmission is very low, and vaginal delivery is possible. Zika virus infection Zika Virus Infection Zika virus infection is a mosquito-borne viral infection that typically causes no symptoms but can cause fever, rash, joint pain, or infection of the membrane that covers the white of the eye Often the head is small because the brain is small and abnormally developed.

Microcephaly can be caused by many disorders including genetic abnormalities The head is small because it does not develop normally. Zika virus infection can also cause eye abnormalities in the baby.

The Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes, but it can also be spread through sexual intercourse, through blood transfusions, and from a pregnant woman to her baby before or during birth. You'll be offered a blood test for hepatitis B as part of your antenatal care. Babies who are at risk should be given the hepatitis B vaccine at birth to prevent infection and serious liver disease later on in life.

The hepatitis C virus infects the liver. Many people with hepatitis C have no symptoms and are unaware they are infected. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infected blood. People who received a blood transfusion in the UK prior to September , or blood products prior to , may also be at risk.

Hepatitis C can also be transmitted by receiving medical or dental treatment in countries where hepatitis C is common and infection control may be poor, or by having sex with an infected partner. If you have hepatitis C, you may pass the infection on to your baby, although the risk is much lower than with hepatitis B or HIV. This cannot currently be prevented.

Your baby can be tested for hepatitis C and, if they're infected, they can be referred for specialist assessment. Genital herpes infection can be dangerous for a newborn baby. You can get herpes through genital contact with an infected person or from oral sex with someone who has cold sores oral herpes. Initial infection causes painful blisters or ulcers on the genitals. Less severe outbreaks usually occur for some years afterwards. Treatment is available if your first infection occurs in pregnancy.

If your first infection occurs near the end of pregnancy or during labour, a caesarean section may be recommended to reduce the risk of passing herpes on to your baby.

If you or your partner have herpes, use condoms or avoid sex during an outbreak. Avoid unprotected oral sex as herpes is very easy to pass on. Tell your midwife or doctor if either you or your partner have recurring herpes or develop sores. You'll be offered a confidential HIV human immunodeficiency virus test as part of your routine antenatal care. Your midwife or doctor will discuss the test with you, and counselling will be available if the result is positive.

Read more about screening for HIV in pregnancy. Current evidence suggests that if you're HIV positive, in good health and without symptoms of the infection you're unlikely to be adversely affected by pregnancy. If you're diagnosed with HIV, you and your doctor will need to discuss the management of your pregnancy and birth to reduce the risk of infection for your baby. Treatment in pregnancy greatly reduces the risk of passing on HIV to the baby — from 1 in 4 to fewer than 1 in Your baby will be tested for HIV at birth and at regular intervals for 18 months.

You'll be advised not to breastfeed or chestfeed, as HIV can be transmitted to your baby in this way. If you're HIV positive, talk to your doctor or midwife about your own health and the options open to you. Slapped cheek syndrome is common in children. It typically causes a rash on the face. If you come into contact with anyone who is infected, you should talk to your doctor, who can carry out a blood test to check whether you're immune.

In most cases, the baby is not affected if you have slapped cheek syndrome. But if you develop rubella in the first 4 months of pregnancy, it can lead to serious problems, including birth defects and miscarriage. It's unlikely you have rubella in these circumstances, but you may need a blood test to check. But there are several things known to increase your risk of problems happening.

Food poisoning , caused by eating contaminated food, can also increase the risk of miscarriage. For example:. Read more about foods to avoid in pregnancy. To be sure a medicine is safe in pregnancy, always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before taking it.

Read more about medicines during pregnancy. Problems and abnormalities with your womb can also lead to second trimester miscarriages. Possible problems include:.

In some cases, the muscles of the cervix neck of the womb are weaker than usual. This is known as a weakened cervix or cervical incompetence. A weakened cervix may be caused by a previous injury to this area, usually after a surgical procedure. The muscle weakness can cause the cervix to open too early during pregnancy, leading to a miscarriage. Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS is a condition where the ovaries are larger than normal. It's caused by hormonal changes in the ovaries. PCOS is known to be a leading cause of infertility as it can lower the production of eggs.