Herpes Simplex Virus and Pregnancy: A Review of the Management of Antenatal and Peripartum Herpes Infections

Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, affecting 1 in 6 people in the United States. Women are twice as likely to be infected as men and infections in women of reproductive age carry the additional risk of vertical transmission to the neonate at the time of delivery. Neonatal herpes infections can be devastating with up to 50% mortality for disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in the newborn. Rates of transmission are affected by the viral type of HSV infection and whether the infection around delivery is primary or recurrent. Current management approaches decrease rates of active lesions at the time of delivery and thereby cesarean deliveries, but have not been shown to decrease the incidence of neonatal herpes infections. More research is needed to better elucidate the risk factors for transmission to the neonate and to improve our current management methodology to further decrease vertical transmission. In this review, we will discuss management of antenatal and peripartum herpes infections, considerations for mode of delivery, and the course of neonatal HSV infections. Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists and Family Physicians Learning Objectives: After the completing the CME activity, physicians should be better able to diagnose and manage genital herpes in the pregnant population, counsel patients appropriately regarding risk for vertical transmission based on viral subtype and type of infection and categorize the severity of neonatal herpes infections.