Korede Abdullah in Lagos
Gynaecologists are sounding the alarm, warning pregnant women diagnosed with gonorrhoea to seek immediate medical attention to prevent adverse effects on their pregnancy.
According to Dr. Ochuwa Babah, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, gonorrhoea is a serious infection that can have devastating consequences if left untreated.
Dr. Babah emphasized that pregnant women with gonorrhoea should avoid self-medication and instead seek proper medical care from qualified personnel.
“Gonorrhoea is not as common as Chlamydia trachomatis, but it has been found to impact adversely on pregnancy, both in women who have HIV and even in women who do not have HIV,” she warned.
Untreated gonorrhoea in pregnancy can cause continuous miscarriage, eye infection in children, which may lead to blindness, and preterm birth, which is the leading cause of under-five mortality globally.
Dr. Babah explained that gonorrhoea can spread upward from the vagina to the cervix and uterus, weakening the membrane surrounding the baby and increasing the risk of preterm birth.
“If the infection becomes overwhelming, it can affect the baby to the extent of killing the baby. At the end of the day, the baby dies in the womb,” she cautioned.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of tackling sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which occur over one million times daily worldwide.
The experts’ warning comes as a reminder of the importance of seeking medical attention immediately if diagnosed with gonorrhoea during pregnancy.
As Dr. Babah noted, “We now have evidence to show that gonorrhoea can occur in pregnancy, and it’s essential to treat it promptly to prevent complications.”
Pregnant women are urged to prioritize their health and the health of their unborn babies by seeking proper medical care if diagnosed with gonorrhoea.
The World Health Organization emphasizes that with over one million new sexually transmitted infections occurring daily worldwide, it’s crucial for countries to address this issue to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, a key target under Sustainable Development Goal 3.
