Genital herpes does not affect your ability to have children, but the possibility of passing herpes on to your baby can be a concern. Talk to your doctor or another healthcare professional if you or your partner has genital herpes and if you are pregnant or thinking of having a baby. Please remember that it is very rare for genital herpes to be passed to a baby. It affects only about one in 2,000 babies born in the USA - even though as many as one in five pregnant women may be infected with virus that causes genital herpes. The virus is only rarely passed to the baby while it is in the womb. The main threat is at the time of birth, when the baby can become infected from contact with sores in the birth canal. If you acquired genital herpes before your pregnancy: The risk of passing the virus on to your baby is very low - less than 3 per cent. Antibodies in your blood give your baby some resistance to the virus. Let your doctor know if you are expecting a baby and have a history of genital herpes, so that your condition can be monitored. If you have your first outbreak during pregnancy: The risk of passing herpes on to the baby is higher when the woman first catches the herpes virus while she is pregnant. The risk to your baby can be reduced with medical monitoring (for example, to check for the presence of any sores) and appropriate management steps if necessary, so if you are pregnant and have just discovered that you have genital herpes, tell your doctor immediately. If your partner has just been diagnosed with genital herpes, you might catch the virus and pass it on to your baby. Again, consult your doctor right away to discuss the situation and agree what steps you can take. Antiviral medication is not routine in pregnancy but it is sometimes needed. Your doctor will advise you on the best approach for you and your baby.