Genitourinary Infections & the Risk for Premature Labor and Delivery

As a new Mom who experienced a premature labor and delivery, resulting in premature birth of your infant, you may be feeling a variety of emotions from anxiety to fear to guilt. For many new Moms, the risk for giving birth prematurely is often met by surprise with no clear indication as to how the birth of the baby, prematurely, even took place.

For some new Moms, the complications associated with what is termed as genitourinary infection. As a bacterial infection that affects the urinary tract or the genital area, even both, when untreated the complications can lead to premature labor and delivery.

If you are a new Mom who experienced premature delivery of your infant, it is important to ask your obstetrician about the complications associated with a possible bacterial infection. Often, because infection is overlooked as a complication, many new Moms are not even aware the complication exists until many months after delivery.

Bacterial infections that lead to premature delivery may include those that are considered sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as Chlamydia or other asymptomatic bacteria. While your obstetrician may not know, for certainty, that premature delivery was attributed to infection, the use of antibiotics, such as doxycycline or Keflex, may be initiated following birth of your infant.

In contrast, if you are pregnant, it is important to manage any genitourinary infections aggressively. While some infections may be sexually transmitted, many are not. When symptoms of vaginal infection or urinary tract infection are believed to exist, seek medical attention immediately. Additionally, if you have been exposed to partner that is believed to carry a sexually transmitted disease, even hepatitis or HIV, your healthcare professional will want to classify your pregnancy as high risk, even if you do not show the symptoms of acquiring such infection.

Yeast infections are quite common among pregnant women due to the change in hormone levels. Like STD and bacterial infections, fungal infections such as a yeast infection, should also be treated early and aggressively, especially if during the second and third trimester.

As with any complication associated with premature labor and delivery, or complications during pregnancy, it is important to speak with your healthcare professional regarding bacterial infections, both STD and non-STD, as well as viral and fungal infections. With early intervention, many infections can be resolved quite easily, often reducing the risk for premature delivery of your infant. If, however, you have already delivered your baby early, be certain to ask your obstetrician about testing for genitourinary infections, even when no symptoms are present.