Complications during pregnancy-Epidemiology and risk factors

Risk pregnancy is the term denoted to a pregnancy with a higher chance of developing a pathology than that of the normal population. Although risk pregnancies form 30% of all pregnancies only 20% to 30% of them actually develop a pathology. The higher than average risk can be present before conception or it is acquired during pregnancy. In order to identify risk factors general (medical history and physical examination) through specific screening is used. In case of a positive screening result specific prevention methods are applied. One of the late risk factors identified in pregnancies are sexually transmitted diseases, especially if their course is asymptomatic. Prevalence of urogenital chlamydia infections has been increasing, and various screening programs have been evaluated for their cost benefit ratio. Developed countries have introduced successful screening and preventive programs for hepatitis B infection. Also vertical transmission of HIV to the newborn is met by efficient preventive methods in developed countries. These methods, however, are not available in most of developing countries. Other than these there is also a serological screening for syphilis infections. There is no routine serological screening for the rest of sexually transmitted disease