Herpes and habitual miscarriage of pregnancy
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Genital herpes is one of the most frequent human infections. Most researchers believe that the true frequency of the herpes simplex virus in women is not known, since the share of asymptomatic forms and virus carrying is high. A specific feature of this infection is that the antibodies do not prevent reactivation, as well as with cytomegalovirus infection.
Among patients with habitual miscarriage, 55% are asymptomatic carriers of herpes simplex virus, 10% have recurrent episodes of reactivation (characteristic rashes, itching). In patients with habitual miscarriage in the virus of the herpes simplex virus, a monoculture is rare. Most often - in association with cytomegalovirus infection and bacteria and in the cervical channel, and in the endometrium.
Genital herpes in 66% of women, among those who have frequent reactivation, is characterized by an atypical form of the disease. Clinical criteria for diagnosis are: persistent discharge from the genital tract, which are not routinely used; a feeling of debilitating itching; burning; swelling; discomfort in the vagina (so-called vulvodynia); recurrent diseases of the cervix uteri - ectopia; leukoplakia; pelvic ganglionovrit; kandilomy.
Persistent vulvovaginitis in 61% is due to a combination of herpes simplex virus and chlamydia. Chronic endometritis, including herpes simplex virus, has the following clinical manifestations: perimenstrual uterine bleeding, vulvodynia, menorrhagia, leucorrhoea, lower abdominal pain, habitual miscarriage or infertility. It turned out that, as with cytomegalovirus infection, there are violations of general immunity, which are manifested in a decrease in the total population of T-lymphocytes, a decrease in the number of T-helpers and T-suppressors, and an increase in the content of natural killers-signs of moderately expressed secondary immunodeficiency. And it turned out that when atypical form these changes are more pronounced than with a typical form of the disease. However, it is practically impossible to predict the features of the course of genital herpes to the submitted evaluation of the immune status of peripheral blood. When evaluating local immunity, endometrial research into the first phase of the menstrual cycle yielded a number of interesting data on the significant increase in cytotoxic cells, immunoglobulins in endometrial secretion, which may be markers of severity of chronic endometritis with a persistent viral infection.
For pregnancy, the primary herpes simplex virus is a big danger, and it is noted that the primary herpes simplex virus in pregnant women often goes harder than non-pregnant herpes.
Very often, the cervix is involved in the process with the formation of "erosion" of the cervix. If the primary infection is observed in the first half of pregnancy, there is a high incidence of miscarriages, and in later terms - premature birth.
When a child suffers from herpes simplex virus, a congenital syndrome is possible, which is manifested by microcephaly, intracranial calcifications, and chorioretinitis. Most often the child becomes infected in the process of childbirth in the presence of rashes in the genital tract of the mother. The presence of antibodies in the mother does not prevent the disease, but improves its outcome, as well as with cytomegalovirus infection.