Navigating fertility can come with so many questions and unknowns. This journey can be even further complicated if a pregnant person has a preexisting condition or develops one during pregnancy. One possible complication is congenital Lyme disease.
We understand how nerve-wracking it can be if you are pregnant or hope to become pregnant and have been affected by Lyme disease. Know that there is support, and that starts with knowing what your options are for treatment and diagnosis. We’re here to break down precisely what congenital Lyme disease is, how it may affect you and the developing fetus, and your treatment options.
If you have experienced fertility issues, please note that this article briefly discusses pregnancy loss; please proceed with caution if this is a sensitive topic for you.
What is congenital Lyme disease?
You can contract Lyme disease if you get bit by a tick carrying a Lyme-causing strain of bacteria, the most common being B. burgdorferi. The most common symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- Fever and chills
- Muscle and joint aches
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- An erythema migrans bull’s eye rash
Congenital Lyme disease is the transmission of Lyme from mother to fetus in utero. How common is it? Researchers identified 59 cases of it between 1969 and 2017. So far, no reports of Lyme disease transmission via breast milk have been reported.
Symptoms for pregnant people
Pregnant people who contract Lyme disease may exhibit the same symptoms as someone who isn’t pregnant. Women with Lyme disease may have a higher prevalence of common symptoms, higher inflammatory and immune responses, and more atypical Lyme rashes. It can also be more challenging to diagnose Lyme in pregnant people because they may already be experiencing achiness and fatigue, along with other body changes.
Outside of experiencing symptoms, you may have Lyme disease if you have recently found a tick on you, recently visited, or live in an area where it is common.
Effects on the baby
While some studies have examined the effects of Lyme disease on a developing fetus, researchers have not identified how the bacterial infection spreads to the fetus. This means that it’s unclear whether adverse birth outcomes in cases where a pregnant person has Lyme disease were a direct result of the infection.
Researchers and medical providers have seen evidence of adverse fetal outcomes in cases where a pregnant person has contracted Lyme disease, but have been unable to pinpoint a specific “congenital Lyme disease” syndrome.
Pregnant parents who acquired Lyme may develop an infection of the placenta, potentially transmitting the disease to their developing fetus. Potential adverse outcomes to the fetus include:
- Spontaneous miscarriage
- Newborn death or stillbirth
- Newborns with health complications like respiratory distress or syndactyly (webbed fingers or toes)
- Congenital heart abnormality
- Small birth size
- Low birth weight
Exposure in utero
What about children who may have been exposed to Lyme disease while in utero? According to the CDC, there are currently no studies on the developmental outcomes of children whose gestational parent developed Lyme disease during pregnancy.
However, a study by Dr. Charles Ray Jones, a pediatric Lyme disease specialist, found that of 102 live births to a pregnant parent with Lyme disease, 90% of children experienced cognitive issues, 72% had fatigue, and 9% had autism. Again, this is a limited sample size and insufficient information to draw a specific conclusion.
Treating congenital Lyme disease
Because of the uncertainty of how Lyme disease may affect a developing fetus, seeking treatment as soon as possible is vital if you believe you may have it. There is a low risk of adverse birth outcomes with proper treatment. There have been no cases of life-threatening fetal complications in cases where a pregnant person receives adequate antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease.
If Lyme disease is suspected, your provider will administer a blood test or treat you based on symptoms. Standard Lyme disease treatment for a pregnant person would include a three-week treatment using the antibiotic amoxicillin. Certain antibiotics like doxycycline are typically not prescribed during pregnancy because they may affect the developing fetus.
Current CDC testing recommendations involve a two-tier testing system, though this is not your best option. There is a bit of a catch-22 in that traditional Lyme disease tests might not be positive until four to six weeks after infection. However, outcomes are significantly better the sooner you can treat congenital Lyme disease.
Accurate Testing For Lyme Is Key
That’s where we come in. IGeneX offers the most accurate and comprehensive Lyme disease results available so that you can get a diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
The best way to prevent congenital Lyme disease is by trying to avoid tick bites in the first place. You can help lower your risk by taking these steps when in areas where ticks may be common:
- Use a bug spray containing DEET (considered safe for pregnancy) or a lemon-eucalyptus blend
- Wear long pants tucked into high socks
- Wear long hair up
- Put clothes in the dryer for at least ten minutes after coming home
- Thoroughly check your body after going into tick habitats
Overall, research on congenital Lyme disease is limited. If you are exposed to ticks or contract Lyme disease, rapid diagnosis and treatment significantly reduces the risk of any adverse outcomes.