Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease that makes it difficult to get pregnant. It is a parasite that can be contracted by eating raw meat or vegetables that have come into contact with cat faeces. Simply by not washing your hands thoroughly after cleaning your pet's litter tray, the microorganisms can be transferred to the vegetables you are about to make a salad from.

For the mother-to-be, the disease is not dangerous, but for the foetus it is. It can cause hydrocephalus, psychomotor and mental retardation, blindness, microcephaly, glaucoma and cataracts. This is why it is important to have a comprehensive examination before planning a pregnancy. In children infected during pregnancy, the first symptoms of the disease can appear even several years after birth.

HPV virus and pregnancy

Both for pregnant women and those who are just trying it out, HPV virus is very dangerous. It is only recently that research into the effects of the human papillomavirus HPV on fertility has begun. However, whatever the results, it is already worth thinking about a vaccine to protect against the various consequences of infection with the virus, including cervical cancer. HPV and pregnancy, what next? An infected pregnant woman should be under the special care of a gynaecologist.

Viruses, bacteria and parasites and infertility

Some dangerous pathogens can be treated with antibiotic therapy. These include the two diseases previously mentioned (HPV and toxoplasmosis), as well as:

chlamydia

A bacterium that prevents pregnancy. It is sexually transmitted. It can cause abnormal pregnancy development, and prolonged disease completely damages the fallopian tubes. Untreated infection in women results in pelvic organ inflammation (PID), which consequently leads to infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic lower abdominal pain. Most common symptoms of chlamydia In women, these include lower abdominal pain, bleeding after intercourse, a change in the colour and amount of vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. On the other hand, is pregnancy after chlamydia treatment possible? If you have reacted to the worrying symptoms in good time, started antibiotic treatment and are now fully healthy, there are no contraindications.

syphilis

These days, it is a fairly rare but still dangerous sexually transmitted disease. If untreated, it is passed on to the child, who is born with what is known as congenital syphilis. Symptoms of the disease in a child up to the age of 2 years include enlargement of the liver and spleen, a maculopapular rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, a serous discharge leaking from the nose making breathing difficult and causing wheezing. Symptoms after the age of 2 years include tooth damage, keratitis, deafness, and the characteristic saddle-shaped nose.

Other diseases can be prevented by vaccination. These include:

rubella

An infectious disease transmitted by the droplet route. The rubella virus belongs to a group of viruses that cause intrauterine infections. After vaccination, maternity plans must be postponed for several months. Infection during the first half of pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or damage the foetus. Heart defects, cataracts, glaucoma, deafness, meningitis, microcephaly, schizophrenia or autism can occur. This is why it is so important to take care of yourself and monitor your body if you already know what symptoms rubella brings. Infertility is unlikely to threaten a woman after contracting rubella. Of course, this only applies if appropriate treatment has been implemented, at an earlier stage of the disease.

After consulting your doctor, you can be vaccinated during pregnancy. Influenza, like any virus, can cause miscarriage, induce premature birth or delay intrauterine growth of the foetus. It can also disrupt the menstrual cycle and the ovulation cycle - if it is absent, getting pregnant is impossible. With the cessation of the disease and full recovery and strength of the body, fertility should return to normal.

Unfortunately, there is no effective cure for many viruses. These include:

cytomegalovirus

Infection most often occurs during sexual contact. The body can fight the virus on its own, you just need to know about the disease and give yourself time to self-treat. Antiviral drugs have many side effects and must not be taken during pregnancy. They are only given to infected newborns in a hospital setting.

Genital herpes

It is very dangerous for the fetus when it is infected by primary infection. It can cause miscarriage, premature birth, damage the fetal liver, lead to blindness, microcephaly, hydrocephalus, pneumonia. If it occurs in pregnancy, Acyclovir is administered, which has no effect on the baby. Symptoms of genital herpes are an indication for the termination of pregnancy by caesarean section.

HHV-6 virus

An association between HHV-6 (which is a close relative of cytomegalovirus) and infertility was recently detected. It was found in the uterine mucosa of almost 50% infertile women in the study group.

Zika virus

It is native to Africa, but has recently spread to Central and South America and Asia. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, but also by sexual transmission. The bite of an infected insect on a pregnant woman causes microcephaly in her baby. Although recent reports from the Americans say that a vaccine has finally been found, women planning a pregnancy are not advised to travel to the affected areas.

Parasites in pregnancy

Another group of microorganisms that can affect fertility are parasites, for example: lamblia, amoeba, tapeworm, human roundworm, pinworms. Most people develop at least one parasite in their body, which we usually do not know about, sometimes we have several. They are certainly not indifferent to our health and the development of pregnancy. There is a lot of work ahead of science to detect all the pathogens that can affect fertility and the foetus, and then find cures for them. It is impossible to detect everything, to cure and to guard against every disease. Of course, it is sensible to plan your pregnancy, get tested early and treat what you can. It is advisable to find a specialist who knows how to treat diseases that can cause infertility.

However, it is possible to look at the problem from another angle - minimising the risk of infection and taking preventive action. Nowadays, infectious diseases are not only treated with drugs. A proper diet also counts. This usually involves the exclusion of sugar, white bread, alcohol, white flour pasta, white rice; reducing the consumption of meat, dairy products, eggs and eating plenty of vegetables, seeds, nuts. It deacidifies the body and causes many pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites to perish because conditions become unsuitable for their growth. So it is worth seeing a nutritionist and planning a menu that prepares you for pregnancy and is suitable for your body.

Vaginal mycosis and getting pregnant

Vaginal mycosis can cause fertility problems. However, it is not a direct cause of infertility. A particularly dangerous bacterium in the vagina is the previously mentioned Chlamydia Trachomatis. Its entry inside the woman occurs during intercourse with an infected partner. Factors that may contribute to the development of fungal infections in the vagina include glucocorticosteroid therapy, antibiotic therapy, taking contraceptives or poor hygiene. Vaginal mycosis is treated with topical imidazole derivatives or nystatin or orally with fluconazole.

Ureaplasma and getting pregnant

Ureaplasma is another intimate infection of women. Infection most often occurs through unprotected sexual intercourse, saliva and blood. Symptoms of ureaplasma can include frequent urination and a feeling of urinary urgency, as well as pain and burning in the urethra - the same as with an escherichia coli infection in the vagina. If you notice these in yourself, be sure to see your doctor. Detection or exclusion of ureaplasma is by PCR test.

If left untreated and neglected, the infection leads to a number of serious complications, for example, it can hinder the implantation of the embryo in the uterus, deteriorate a man's sperm parameters and even increase the risk of miscarriage during pregnancy.

Vitamins and pregnancy

Maintaining plasma vitamin D3 concentrations of 40-50 ng/ml, through vitamin D3 supplementation in doses of 2000 - 8000 IU and sun bathing, has been proven to reduce the risk of contracting influenza by more than 80 per cent. If vitamin D3 has such a tremendous effect on the flu virus, it certainly destroys other viruses in our body as well.

Vitamin C, on the other hand, has a positive effect on female fertility, which has been confirmed by numerous studies. The mechanism of action is not precisely understood. Perhaps the anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial effects of ascorbic acid are used here. Vitamin C in large doses of several tens of grams per day is more effective than many antibiotics.

We plan most serious matters in advance. Let's also plan for pregnancy. Let's research, visit a nutritionist. Ask your doctor what vitamins you should be taking and what exactly you need to check before you start trying for a baby.