Herpes and Pregnancy

If a woman with genital herpes has virus present in the birth canal during delivery, herpes simplex virus (HSV) can be spread to an infant, causing neonatal herpes, a serious and sometimes fatal condition. But neonatal herpes is rare, and there are steps a woman and her healthcare providers can take to reduce the risk. Herpes experts H. Hunter Handsfield and Kees Rietmeijer lay out the concerns and discuss prevention steps.