STD Testing FAQs

Here at The Birth Center, we provide a wide range of midwifery services to women and expectant mothers in the Missoula, Montana and surrounding area. STDs can impact the health of a woman as well as her unborn child, so it’s highly recommended that women undergo a comprehensive STD screening during pregnancy.

How do STDs affect pregnancy?

Having an STD can increase the likelihood of complications. Certain STDs such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Chlamydia can be passed from mother to child during delivery. Whether the STD is curable or not, there are ways to reduce transmission risk from mother to child. STDs also can impact your child’s health and can cause issues such as blood infections, brain damage, blindness, and more. This is why it’s important to get tested for STDs during pregnancy. When you come into our practice we will screen for:

  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • HIV
  • Hepatitis B & C
  • Genital herpes (HSV-2)
  • Trichomoniasis
  • Bacterial vaginosis
  • HPV

When should I get tested?

Even if you’ve been tested before, once you become pregnant it’s a good idea to get another comprehensive STD screening. Women who are at high risk for STDs may want to get regular STD screenings each trimester. Even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms, STD testing is still highly recommended (after all, not all women with STDs will experience symptoms). It’s a good idea for our midwifery team to screen for STDs as early as possible in the pregnancy. We will also determine whether there’s a need to retest later on in your pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of an STD?

You must recognize the signs and symptoms of an STD so that you can turn to our team right away for treatment. By getting the treatment you need, we can reduce the likelihood of complications and transmission of STDs to your baby. Symptoms of an STD include:

  • Any sores or growths that develop around the anus, vagina, or mouth
  • Redness or pain around the vagina or anus
  • Pain with urination
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Jaundice
  • Changes in vaginal discharge
  • Breakthrough bleeding
  • Pain with sex
  • Intense vaginal itching
  • Skin rash

Our team at The Birth Center are here to provide women and mothers in the Missoula, MT, area with STD screenings, prenatal checkups, and other women’s health services. To schedule an appointment or STD screening with us, call (406) 541-7115 today.

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Monday:

8:30 AM-4:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 AM-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

Closed

Thursday:

8:30 AM-4:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 AM-4:00 pm

Saturday:

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Sunday:

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