Could genital herpes cause problems during pregnancy?

Yes: If it is the first outbreak then there is a risk to the fetus, regardless of the type of delivery. A congenital infection can have devastating effects including mental retardation and blindness. Any woman who is suspected of herpes in pregnancy should be treated with antiviral medication and have a c-section. Women who have know history of herpes should be treated medically starting at 36 weeks.

Yes : Genital herpes can be problematic for pregnant women because of the possibility of vertical transmission during vaginal delivery. This is why women with vaginal herpes outbreaks require c-sections, and suppressive therapy around the time of delivery is used to prevent outbreaks. Neonatal herpes can lead to infection to the baby's skin, eyes, mouth, or central nervous system.

Primary outbreak: A first time infection with herpes during pregnancy is very serious since the virus can go from your blood stream through the placenta and cause an infection of the baby which can then cause long-term damage. Secondary or recurrent infections with HSV do not infect the baby unless you are actively shedding virus at the time of a vaginal delivery. Medications can minimize that risk.