Herpes and pregnancy

Genital herpes does not affect a woman's fertility. However there is a small chance that the virus may be passed on to your baby during birth. This is called neonatal herpes.

Neonatal herpes is very rare. It affects 1 in every 11,000 to 15,000 babies in Australia. Neonatal herpes can happen if you have an outbreak at the time of your baby's birth and the baby comes in contact with your genital region.

This doesn't mean that every woman with genital herpes should have a caesarean section. But it is important to speak to your obstetrician as soon as you become pregnant so that you can discuss genital herpes treatment options and agree on an appropriate birth plan to suit your needs.