Genital Herpes

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N Engl J Med. 1986 Sep5;315(13):796-800.

Failure of antepartum maternal cultures to predict the infant's risk of exposure to herpes simplex virus at delivery.

Arvin AM , Hensleigh PA ,

Prober CG , Au DS , Yasukawa LL , Wittek AE , Palumbo PE ,

Paryani SG , Yeager AS .

In 414 pregnant women with a history of recurrent genital herpes simplex infection, we studied the correlation between asymptomatic viral shedding in late pregnancy and at the time of delivery. Antepartum cultures for asymptomatic reactivation of herpes simplex virus were positive in 17 of the 414 women (4.1 percent). None of these women had positive cultures at the time of delivery. Cultures of specimens obtained at delivery from 5 of 354 asymptomatic mother-infant pairs (1.4 percent) were positive for asymptomatic excretion of herpes simplex virus. None of these women had had antepartum cultures that documented asymptomatic excretion of herpes simplex virus, despite the fact that culturing was repeatedly performed during the four weeks before delivery. Asymptomatic shedding of herpes simplex virus occurred with the same Frequency at delivery, whether or not any episodes of symptomatic recurrence were noted during the pregnancy (1.4 vs. 1.3 percent). We conclude that antepartum maternal cultures do not predict the infant's risk of exposure to herpes simplex virus at delivery.

Please click on the required question.

• Q 31. 1 What skin conditions may affect the vulva?
• Q 31. 2 Which viral infections can affect the genitalia?
• Q 31. 3 What problems can occur to people with herpes simplex?
• Q 31. 4 What are genital warts?
• Q 31. 5 What is lichen sclerosus?
• Q 31. 6 How is lichen sclerosus treated?
• Q 31. 7 What could be causing my vulval irritation?
• Q 31. 8 How could my vulval irritation be treated?
• Q 31. 9 What is a Bartholin’s cyst / abscess?
• Q 31. 10 How is a Bartholin’s cyst / abscess treated?
• Q 31. 11 What is vulvodynia?
• Q 31. 12 How can my vulvodynia be treated?
• Q 31. 13 What is vestibulitis?
• Q 31. 14 How can my vestibulitis be treated?
• Q 31. 15 Where can I obtain further information?
• Q 31. 16 Support Groups.

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This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided. If you still have unanswered questions, please consider entering them into one of our forums and I will try to assist you.