CMV is a common virus that infects people of all ages, most people have been exposed to CMV at some point in their lifetime without their knowledge. Once CMV is in a person’s body, it stays there for life.

People with an active CMV diagnosis will sometimes shed the virus in body fluids, such as urine, saliva, blood, tears, semen, and breast milk. Shedding of the virus may take place intermittently, without any detectable signs, and without causing symptoms.

Did you know 1 per every 200 children is born with congenital CMV in the United States, making it the most common congenital viral infection affecting newborns? CMV can be easily transmitted to an unborn child by a pregnant mother experiencing a CMV infection, an often symptomless virus.

Know your risk!

Every woman of childbearing age can learn her CMV status. Before you plan to conceive, ask your doctor to have a blood sample drawn for a CMV IgG and IgM antibody tests. If your doctor refuses, ask them to document their refusal in your chart.  

CMV Screening Before and During Pregnancy

People planning a pregnancy can be tested for CMV – ask your doctor to run CMV IgM and IgG antibody tests.
 
If you are already pregnant, you can request that CMV IgM and IgG antibody lab tests be added to your routine labs. These tests are relatively inexpensive and are covered by most insurance plans.

Here is an explanation of IgG and IgM antibody test results and what they mean for your pregnancy:  

No history of prior CMV infection – Be sure to practice the CMV prevention precautions to help minimize your risk of contracting CMV during pregnancy. You shouldn’t need any further CMV antibody testing unless you begin showing signs of a CMV infection, or if your baby shows signs of a possible CMV infection during a routine ultrasound. 
 
Recent CMV infection – If you are not already pregnant, ask your doctor how long you should wait before you try to conceive. And if your doctor doesn’t know or you aren’t sure, contact us to be connected with a CMV expert. If you are already pregnant, ask your doctor if you should receive extra ultrasounds to track your baby’s development in utero and to confirm that your baby does not show any prenatal signs of CMV infection. If your baby does show signs of CMV infection in ultrasound, an amniocentesis may be necessary to find out whether your baby has a CMV infection.
 
Past CMV infection that is not recent – It is recommended that you practice CMV prevention recommendations during pregnancy because it is still possible that a recurrent CMV infection or an infection with a different strain of CMV may cause mild harm to your baby. These infections are rare and generally result in less serious disability than primary infections.

Pregnancy After a CMV Baby

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For families who have had a child diagnosed with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV), it is natural to wonder about the chances of it happening again in a future pregnancy. The reassuring news is that recurrence appears to be extremely rare. While CMV infection is common, repeat cases of cCMV within the same family have only been reported a handful of times in the medical literature worldwide. After a CMV infection, the body develops an immune response that helps reduce the risk of the virus reactivating or of becoming infected with a different CMV strain during a future pregnancy.

Although the risk of recurrence is very low, families planning another pregnancy may find reassurance in taking a few proactive steps. Waiting at least six months after a CMV infection before becoming pregnant allows the immune system time to fully control the infection. Practicing good hygiene around young children—such as frequent handwashing and avoiding sharing food, drinks, or utensils—may further reduce CMV exposure. Meeting with a Maternal–Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist before or early in pregnancy can also provide personalized counseling and a monitoring plan tailored to your family's needs. Most importantly, families should know that they are not alone. With appropriate support and guidance, most go on to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.