Many STDs, such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia, can have a negative effect on fertility levels if left untreated. But, this isn’t the case for all STDs. Herpes is super common in the UK, but, if you carry the virus, you might be worried about being able to conceive in the future. We’re here to help debunk some common myths about herpes and pregnancy. So, let’s answer the most important question first – can herpes make you infertile?

Yes and no. Herpes can reduce sperm count in males, which may make it harder (but not impossible) to conceive. In females, herpes doesn’t affect fertility, and in fact, many women carrying the virus will have healthy pregnancies. 

Read on to learn how a genital herpes infection impacts men and women, if herpes can be passed onto a child during birth, and how to access comprehensive pre-pregnancy STD screening.

Can Herpes Affect Male Fertility?

Whilst the evidence isn’t concrete, one study on the relationship between male infertility and genital herpes found that a herpes infection likely lowers sperm count, as well as lowering the quality of the sperm. A lowered sperm count can make it harder to conceive, but it isn’t impossible.

There are certain steps you can take to try and improve sperm count over time, which may help to combat the lowered sperm count from a herpes infection. You could try:

• Reducing your alcohol intake
• Losing weight, if you weigh more than what is considered a ‘healthy’ level for your age
• Stopping smoking or vaping
• Avoiding overly hot baths, showers, and hot tubs
• Wearing loose fitting underwear
• Avoiding recreational drugs, such as cocaine

If you’d like to learn more about which STDs may impact your ability to have children, read our helpful blog: 5 STIs That Affect Male Fertility

Can Herpes Affect Female Fertility?

Unlike males, genital herpes doesn’t impact a woman’s fertility at all. Generally, women with genital herpes have healthy pregnancies and labours, especially when taking daily antiviral medication to suppress outbreaks. There is, however, a small risk of passing herpes onto your child during birth, which we explore in more detail below.

If you’d like to learn more about the complications that STDs can cause during pregnancy, read our helpful blog: Can STDs Cause Infertility or Pregnancy Complications?

Can Herpes Be Passed On To a Child?

If you happen to have a genital herpes outbreak (i.e. sores around the genital region) during labour and childbirth, there is a small risk of your child developing something called neonatal herpes. Neonatal herpes is a serious infection, which can cause:

• Low fevers
• Poor feeding
• Small skin blisters
• If left untreated, seizures and unresponsiveness

A child can also catch neonatal herpes after childbirth if they are kissed by a person with a cold sore on their face, or if you have herpes sores on your breasts whilst breastfeeding your child.

How Can You Prevent Herpes Transmission During Birth?

If you have genital herpes, there are steps you can take to minimise the risk of passing on the infection to your child. Your GP will likely prescribe you antiviral medication, such as acyclovir to reduce the viral shed. In the worst case scenarios, you may be offered a c-section (caesarean) if you have an active outbreak around your genital region when you go into labour.

It is important to remember that even if you have no symptoms, you might still have the herpes virus present in your body. So, if you’re ready to start a family, we’d highly recommend getting a comprehensive STD test to avoid any unexpected complications. Visit our IVF & Pregnancy Screening page to learn more.

To learn more about protecting your child from any STDs you might carry, read our helpful blog: How Should You Prepare for STDs in Pregnancy?

What Other Complications Can Herpes Cause?

Herpes rarely causes complications, which makes it very different to other common STDs like chlamydia or gonorrhoea. Most people will live a long and healthy life after catching HSV-2. However, under very rare circumstances, a genital herpes infection can:

• Make you 3x more likely to catch HIV (although transmission can be minimised through safe sex practices)
• Cause inflammation of sexual organs or your urethra
• Cause something called Encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain
• Enter the bloodstream, and infect internal organs

Most of the complications caused by genital herpes can be treated and managed with proper healthcare. Please get in touch with your GP if you’re worried about any of the above.

Pre-Pregnancy STD Screening With Your Sexual Health

One way to reduce the risk of neonatal herpes is to get a comprehensive pre-pregnancy STD screening test. Here at Your Sexual Health, we offer tests for both single STDs, or premium profiles to test for more than one at the same time. 

Our comprehensive tests are designed to identify the main conditions that could affect your pregnancy, as well as a number of other conditions that could be passed onto your child during birth.

With quick turnaround times, and 150+ private sexual health clinics located across the UK, getting tested couldn’t be easier. Visit our tests page, or get in touch with our team, to learn more.