13-05-2025
Doctors officially told to start screening ALL pregnant women for frightening STD in bombshell move
Every pregnant woman should get screened for an STD linked to rising rates of stillbirths and defects in babies, according to an influential medical panel.
The US Preventive Services Task Force, which sets clinical care guidelines for the country, issued new guidance today calling on doctors to screen for syphilis throughout pregnancies.
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that women can pass to their babies in utero, known as congenital syphilis, which can interfere with the fetus' development.
Rates of the STD have been rising rapidly in recent years thanks to a combination of missed testing, treatment and prenatal care gaps, substance use, social stigma, and testing delays.
In 2023, the US reported nearly 4,000 cases of congenital syphilis, up more than a third from 2021 and 10 times higher than a decade ago.
There were also 279 congenital syphilis-related stillbirths in 2023, the highest number reported in 30 years.
A 2018 federal recommendation urged all pregnant women to be screened for the disease, but the USPSTF is emphasizing its importance by reissuing this recommendation given the upticks in cases and still births.
Women are already recommended to get screened from the disease early, at their very first visit with a gynecologist weeks of pregnancy - between eight and 12.
Women are recommended to get screened from the disease early, at their very first visit with a gynecologist weeks of pregnancy - between eight and 12. This applies to women who have been previously tested for syphilis
But the UPSTF also recommended screening at 28 weeks' gestation and a third time at delivery.
Revealing the guidance, members of the task force said: '[We] conclude with high certainty that screening for syphilis infection in pregnancy has a substantial net benefit.'
They added: 'Rates of new syphilis cases have continued to rise over the past three decades, especially in women.
'Although men account for the majority of syphilis cases, the change in incidence among women was 2 to 4 times higher than that among men between 2017 and 2021.'
Congenital syphilis can cause severe long-term problems for the baby. They may be born too early, too small, or stillborn.
Newborns with the infection can have life-threatening complications such as severe anemia, swollen liver and spleen, yellowing skin (jaundice), and bone deformities.
The infection can also cause brain and nerve damage, leading to inflammation of the covering around nerves, blindness, and permanent hearing loss.
The USPSTF said: 'A recent analysis of national data from 2022 found that 5 percent of congenital syphilis cases (197/3761 cases) occurred in late pregnancy after having had a negative syphilis screening result earlier in pregnancy.
'Similar to the disparities seen in the burden of syphilis, 40.6 percent of these cases occurred in Black women, 28.4 percent occurred in Hispanic or Latina women, and 19.8 percent occurred in White women.'
Some retrospective studies estimate that 25 percent to 50 percent of congenital syphilis cases could be prevented by repeat screening in the third trimester of pregnancy.
The task force added: Congenital syphilis increased more than 10-fold over a recent decade, from 334 cases in 2012 to 3882 cases in 2023.
'It is estimated that almost 90 percent of new congenital syphilis cases could have been prevented with timely testing and treatment.'
The infection can be cured in utero with consistent treatment with the antibiotic penicillin, ideally before the second trimester.
A 2014 systematic review of 54 observational studies found that the incidence of congenital syphilis, preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and newborn infant death was dramatically reduced in pregnant women treated for syphilis during pregnancy compared with those who had untreated syphilis.
Screening for congenital syphilis involves a blood test that detects antibodies that may reflect infection with Treponema pallidum, the organism that causes syphilis.
Most states mandate screening for syphilis in all pregnant women at the first prenatal visit, and some mandate repeat screening early in the third trimester and at delivery.
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During pregnancy, the body goes through many changes that can sometimes cause false positives on syphilis screening tests.
These tests look for signs of tissue damage, not just syphilis itself. Pregnancy can trigger similar reactions because of hormonal shifts, immune system adjustments, or other conditions like autoimmune diseases.
A positive result on the first test doesn't always mean syphilis—it needs a second, more specific test to confirm.
The infection is spread through contact with fecal matter. Unhoused people are more likely to experience the dangerous infection given lack of easy access to handwashing and public restrooms.
Infection is also more common in women living in areas where cases are generally high, those with a history of HIV, incarceration, or sex work.
'Clinicians should be aware of the prevalence of syphilis infection in the communities they serve and state mandates for syphilis screening,' the task force said.
