Genital herpes and pregnancy--preventive measures

Genital herpes is particularly dangerous during pregnancy because of the risk of neonatal infection. This is discussed in four situations of genital herpes associated with pregnancy. Choosing the most appropriate method of delivery, i.e. carrying the least risk of transmission from mother to baby, is based on our knowledge of the natural history of genital herpes infection, the risk to the newborn (estimated from epidemiological studies), and, lastly, the possible preventive measures available.