The objective of the study is to evaluate the acceptance and effect of type- specific HSV serologic testing of pregnant women on sexual behavior at the end of pregnancy.
The study hypothesis is that women with antepartum testing who are identified as susceptible to HSV-1 or HSV-2 will have reduced unprotected coital activity and reduced unprotected oral-genital activity compared to those who did not receive antepartum testing. The objective of the study is to evaluate the acceptance, and effect of type-specific HSV serologic testing of pregnant women on sexual behavior at the end of pregnancy. Upon enrollment, study participants will be randomized into either of two type-specific HSV serologic testing and counseling regimens: * Group 1: Antepartum and postpartum testing. Subjects will be made aware of their antepartum testing results. * Group 2: Antepartum blood draw and postpartum testing. Subjects' specimens will be tested at the same time. Women in group 2 will receive information about herpes infection and how to decrease their chance of acquiring infection during pregnancy. Subjects will be asked to keep a diary of sexual activity and return to the clinic every 4 weeks until delivery.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
173
Subjects will receive safer-sex counseling during pregnancy
Subjects will be testing for HSV by Western Blot
Children's & Women's Health Centre of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The reduction of unprotected coital or oral-genital activity in women who are identified as being susceptible to HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Time frame: From time of enrollment (pregnant less than 28 weeks at the time of enrollment) to delivery
To determine HSV seroconversion rates in Group 1 versus Group 2
Time frame: From time of enrollment (pregnant less than 28 weeks at the time of enrollment) to delivery
To determine rates of neonatal HSV infection in Groups 1 & 2.
Time frame: From time of enrollment (pregnant less than 28 weeks at the time of enrollment) to delivery
To determine viral shedding characteristics in those mother-infant pairs where seroconversion occurs.
Time frame: From time of enrollment (pregnant less than 28 weeks at the time of enrollment) to delivery
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