Dear Prize88,

It depends on the disease. Many infections can be passed on to the fetus during pregnancy and many can affect the baby after it is born. Rubella (German measles) and toxoplasmosis (an infection picked up from handling raw meat or dirty kitty litter) are examples of infections that are very dangerous for the fetus.

There are also some sexually transmitted infections that can be passed to the fetus during pregnancy or to the infant during birth. These infections include

• chlamydia
• gonorrhea
• syphilis
• herpes
• HIV

A woman who is pregnant should ask her clinician to check for these infections. She also needs to talk with her clinician any time she thinks she may have been exposed or have symptoms.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.