9. Myth: A pregnant woman with genital warts is very likely to have a child with respiratory papillomatosis.
This myth refers to a possibility that, during childbirth, the baby may contract the human papillomavirus while passing through the mother's HPV-infected birth canal. The risk is real but quite small, and has been associated with only two specific types of HPV: 6 and 11. If a baby does contract HPV during birth, and if the infection persists, it may cause the child to develop lesions on the vocal cords that can interfere with breathing. This condition, known as respiratory papillomatosis, can be treated.
Delivery by cesarean section offers a baby some protection against HPV infection, but not a guarantee. Overall, the risk of respiratory papillomatosis for the baby is far smaller than the general risk of complications arising from a C-section. Pregnant women with genital warts should discuss the risks and options with their physician well before their due date and decide for themselves what they would like to do.