Another reason for abnormal discharge is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which is acquired through sexual contact. If your doctor has ruled out a yeast infection, he or she will likely screen you for STDs -- particularly if you've had sex with more than one person, or suspect that your partner has had sex with someone else. If not, request that you be screened. Some STDs can cause premature labor and postpartum uterine infections, so it's always better to get tested just in case.
Certain diseases, such as syphilis, HIV, and genital herpes, may not cause vaginal discharge but can be passed on to your baby during pregnancy or at birth. If left untreated, STDs can lead to serious problems for your baby such as stillbirth, low birth weight, brain damage, blindness, and deafness. Some STDs, like chlamydia, can lurk in cervical secretions while showing few symptoms for months or even years, so most doctors recommend chlamydia screening during every pregnancy, regardless of your current relationship patterns. Many infected women have no symptoms at all, so if you have engaged in unprotected sex or have had multiple sexual partners, it's a good idea to get checked out even if you are symptom free.
Don't be reluctant to seek help; there's nothing wrong or shameful about having been sexually active. Equally important, just knowing that you have an STD -- and getting treatment -- will help you protect you and your precious baby. Treatment options depend on the type of STD you have, but all except AIDS and herpes are curable (and antiviral medications may be able to keep symptoms of the latter under control). For example, if you have active genital herpes sores at the time of labor, you may choose to have a c-section to protect your baby from the disease. If you're HIV-positive, doctors will prescribe a medication that dramatically reduces the chance that you'll pass the virus to your baby.
References American Pregnancy Association. Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy. http://www.american pregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/vaginaldischarge.htmlAmerican Pregnancy Association. Yeast Infections During Pregnancy. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/yeastinfection.html Yale-New Haven Hospital. Body Changes Later in Pregnancy. http://www.ynhh.com/maternity/concerns/later_in_pregnancy.htmlBacterial Vaginosis. CDC Fact Sheet. http://www.cdc.gov/std/BV/STDFact-Bacterial-Vaginosis.html The National Women's Health Information Center. Frequently Asked Questions About Bacterial Vaginosis. http://www.4women.gov/faq/stdbv.pdfSTDs & Pregnancy. CDC Fact Sheet.http://www.cdc.gov/std/STDFact-STDs&Pregnancy.htmlVaginitis Due to Vaginal Infections. NIAID Fact Sheet.http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheet/stdvag.htmlChlamydia.CDC Fact Sheet. http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/ Gonorrhea. CDC Fact Sheet.http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/GonorrheaInfo.htmSyphilis. CDC Fact Sheet. http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/ Trichomoniasis. CDC Fact Sheet. http://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/ Herpes. CDC Fact Sheet. http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/ HIV. CDC Fact Sheet. http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/HIVSTDInfo.html HIV and AIDS in Pregnancy. March of Dimes. http://search.marchofdimes.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=556&page_id=9569024&query=HIV&hiword=HIV+ Murkoff, Heidi, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway. What to Expect When You're Expecting. Workman Publishing. 2002 from : http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/pregdischarge#s17
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