How does HPV affect a pregnancy?
Women who had genital warts in the past, but no longer have them, will most likely not have any problems during pregnancy or birth. However, for women who have genital warts during pregnancy, the warts may grow, or may become larger and bleed. In rare cases, a pregnant woman can pass HPV to her baby during vaginal delivery. A baby that is exposed to HPV very rarely develops warts in the throat or voice box. If the warts block the birth canal, a woman may need to have a cesarean-section (C-section) delivery. However, HPV infection or genital warts are not a sole reason for C-section.
Most women who had genital warts, but no longer have them, do not have problems during pregnancy or birth. For women who have genital warts during pregnancy, the warts may grow or become larger and bleed. In rare cases, a pregnant woman can pass HPV to her baby during vaginal delivery. Rarely, a baby who is exposed to HPV gets warts in the throat or voice box. If the warts block the birth canal, a woman may need to have a cesarean section (C section) delivery. But HPV infection or genital warts are not sole reasons for a C section.
