Toxoplasmosis is a common infection that is usually harmless. But if you get toxoplasmosis for the first time while you're pregnant, or a few months before you conceive, there's a small risk the infection could cause:
- miscarriage
- stillbirth
- birth defects or problems after the baby is born – this is very rare
You won't usually develop any obvious symptoms yourself.
How common is toxoplasmosis during pregnancy?
The chances of getting toxoplasmosis for the first time during pregnancy are thought to be very small.
Even if you do become infected for the first time during pregnancy, this doesn't necessarily mean your baby is in danger. In many cases the infection doesn't spread to the baby.
What are the chances of toxoplasmosis causing problems during pregnancy?
If you get toxoplasmosis for the first time during pregnancy, the risk to your child largely depends on when you were infected:
- infection in early pregnancy is less likely to spread to your baby, but if problems do develop they are likely to be more serious
- infection later in pregnancy is more likely to spread to your baby, but any problems that develop are likely to be less severe
It's estimated that only 1 in 10,000 babies is born with toxoplasmosis in the UK.
What to do if you're concerned
You can find out more about toxoplasmosis and how you can reduce your risk.
Pregnant women aren't routinely screened for toxoplasmosis in the UK, but you can ask your midwife or doctor for a blood test to check for the infection.
If this detects a recent infection, further tests may be carried out to check if your baby is affected and treatment may be given to reduce the risk of complications.
Read more about infections in pregnancy.