Zika and conceiving

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My husband is in the Army and is going away in May for 6 months, we have been planning to conceive for over a year, buying a new house which we are moving into in about 6 weeks, got a better job etc all in preparation for a baby. We thought we'd go on a nice relaxing holiday for 2 weeks before he goes, being pregnant when he's away means he won't miss birth etc so perfect timing.

Found out last week the countries we are going to have zika virus! Wasn't mentioned when we were booking. We are going on a cruise--Grand Cayman Islands, Panama, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Colombia and Florida, only in each place for 1 day (8 hours ish) apart from Florida 4 days. This has ruined everything!!! I tried to change destinations but they will only let us if I am already pregnant, can't do that otherwise he won't be back for the birth.

We desperately don't want to wait, because he is going to zika countries as well so earliest we'd be able to try is next March-June (3-6 months after he returns), when you've been waiting a long time this adds so much more time!

What do people advise? Would really appreciate a GP and scientist opinion as well as other people in similar positions. We figured we will do our best to not get bitten by covering up and using repellent, both have blood tests then if clear start trying 4 weeks after we're back, I know it may not happen but I'd feel better if we at least got to try and get pregnant before he goes. I've read the test is 97% accurate and zika can live in sperm longer than blood, so what if he (sorry to be crude) ejaculates a lot before we start trying as well, will that help?

As I said we will only even consider this if we don't get bitten and the blood tests are clear.

I can recommend incognito and trek mosquito repellent. Make sure you cover your whole body (I even sprayed my hands and dabbed my face) also spray clothing and try cover up dusk/dawn. We used the incognito room repellent as well. Both were deet free but I never got bitten on the two holidays I used it on (both for 2 weeks and high risk areas) we took 2 bottles for 2 of us for 2 weeks and had loads left over as it lasts 8 hours per time. I carried it with me everywhere! Don’t bother with the bracelets people advertise as apparently the mosquitos just bite around them as they only avoid areas covered!

Thanks NeverStopExploring. Did you get pregnant before/after or were pregnant when you travelled to these places? We went on our honeymoon in December 2017 to the Caribbean and didn't get bit once, see any mosquitos or hear/think about zika! But now we want a baby, it's been bought to our attention. I read 50%DEET repellent was best for avoiding mosquitos

The first holiday I wasn’t pregnant the second the risk wasn’t Zika but dengue fever and I was pregnant. Found out 2 weeks before we went so was super careful while there. We had delayed ttc because of a job offer and booked the last holiday to have something to look forward to but I did an awful lot of research on areas most likely to be risky and just coated myself in spray and covered in the evenings and early mornings when mosquitos are most active. Deet is very effective but I chose deet free after lots of research as deet doesn’t smell great and can damage plastics (although not your skin strangely) and found they were just as good. We were recommended very similar products by locals too as they all used similar. Take ever precaution you can and fingers crossed you won’t get bitten and will get an all clear on the tests but also thoroughly enjoy your holiday as it may be your last as a couple for a while!

Thanks, it's nice to hear from someone who has been through it. I totally understand the risks but people still live in these places and have children, we will just have to see how it goes I guess, take it day by day. I am trying to look forward to it, but all I want is a baby! Hopefully I'll feel differently when we are actually away

FWIW, we went the frozen + IUI route. Currently in 2WW to see if successful.
DH is going to be working on and off in zika areas for the forseeable future, and i’m 40 and have been trying for a year to conceive, including a MMC at 9 weeks. This is the only route we can safely take, but it is expensive, nerve wracking and time consuming for something that should be free and more simple. I do feel the pressure if we fail is going to be greater too, but we will work on that.

I don't know if this helps, but the NHS have just updated all their Zika advice to a 3 month wait as opposed to 6 months for the male partner.