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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

ZIKA VIRUS AND TTC

22 replies

Leostar22 · 01/12/2019 19:52

I Recently went on honeymoon to maldives and bali we were told cannot concieve for 3 months but saw lots of pregnant people out there and also seen advice stating to wait only 2 months
Is this right? We had no symptoms? Calandar months or 12/8 weeks? How can locals get pregnant?

OP posts:

bluebell94 · 02/12/2019 01:17

Zika is a lot less heard of these days as the frenzy surrounding the large outbreak a few years ago has passed but it is very much still a risk. The current advice is two months if only the female travelled, 3 months if male and female traveled as zika can be present in sperm for up to 3 months. Zika is relatively mild in the sense that someone infected would likely have very little to no symptoms, sometimes just a sniffle of a cold if anything.
It's a very serious virus that can cause severe genetic mutations including microencephaly.
We got married in July and honeymooned in the Caribbean - desperate for a baby but decided to wait the 3 months as I could never forgive myself if our baby was born with life changing/limiting conditions due to my own impatience!
I'm a nurse with experience in travel health and infectious diseases. Please research and make an informed decision x

botbird84 · 02/12/2019 06:51

We're two weeks past our Zika 'baby making quarantine', we went to Mexico in August and all reading and the nurse at the GP advised us to wait. I was desperate to start TTC but common sense got the better of me. Defo worth holding out until that 3 months has passed, the implications could be massive if you don't and a zika-related problem crops up xx

MayDay27 · 02/12/2019 08:23

Hi my OH is travelling to Cambodia end of Jan for two weeks. He's back 16th or Feb and we were thinking of trying from mid May would this be safe? I'm not sure what the risk of the Zika virus is in the area he's travelling but want to rule out any chance of problems, thanks

botbird84 · 02/12/2019 08:46

@MayDay27 Just checked, Cambodia has a Zika risk. You'll have to wait 3 months so mid-May sounds about right. It's a long wait but best to err on the side of caution with these things!

MayDay27 · 02/12/2019 08:57

Thanks, yes it's frustrating having to wait but definitely would rather do that then risk any health issue that could otherwise be avoided. I only came off the pill last week so at least it gives my body some time to get back to cycling regularly. Sorry for all the questions but if we were going to try mid May when would be the best time to start taking folic acid? Also are there any other vitamins/supplements worth taking? If I do have to wait out the next few months I'd like to use them to get as prepared as possible!

botbird84 · 02/12/2019 09:17

@MayDay27 I started taking multivitamins with folic acid (Asda brand) in September and didn't start TTC until November. Figured that way I'd have the additional bits in my system ready to go. Also take the opportunity to work on improving diet and exercise if needed (I know I did!) so you're in good habits.

MayDay27 · 02/12/2019 09:22

Will look into stocking up on some vitamins, I know I can be low on iron as when I last tried to give blood they wouldn't let me due to levels being too low. Good luck with your journey! Just want the next few months to go by now!

StarClaws · 02/12/2019 09:29

We had no symptoms?

80% of people who get the Zika virus have no symptoms.

How can locals get pregnant?

The risk is relatively low, but locals don't have the luxury of waiting a few months to avoid the low risk anyway. So they just run it.

Put it this way, let's say the risk is 1 in 10,000. If you're a local, you take that risk because you have no choice. But if you're a person who can wait 3 months and make the risk 1 in 10,000,000 instead of 1 in 10,000, wouldn't you do it?

claireb707 · 02/12/2019 09:41

We're off on 15 day Caribbean cruise in 3 weeks, so ttc is now on hold till end of march. (Well this is assuming I'm not pregnant now - 16dpo no sign or period but 2bfn - if I am then the cruise is cancelled).
It's frustrating in some ways but we booked it before deciding to ttc, and now we are the 3 month wait is going to be hard especially as I'm 40 1/2 and partner is 39 1/2

Kelpies · 04/12/2019 04:52

I've just returned from traveling and this thread made me check whether any of the countries I've been to had Zika as it stupidly didn't occur to me before. Turns out 2 of the countries have it and I was bitten my mozzies numerous times. I'm 6dpo now so ovulated when I was in one of those countries.. Been ttc for 18months so unlikely to be pregnant anyway but I'm now stressing that I am and that I have zika! I guess time will tell on both accounts..

claireb707 · 04/12/2019 06:26

You can get checked! If you do get a bfp go to your gp and explain.
Was your partner with you as you will need to wait 3 months to ttc again

Kelpies · 04/12/2019 16:28

Will need to wait another week to find out anyway. I highly doubt it will be a bfp anyway. Yeh he was with me. Will definitely wait for the 3months. Just not worth risking is it!!

claireb707 · 08/01/2020 08:49

We've just got back from,2 weeks in the Caribbean and now don't know when to start trying again as neither of us got bitten (wonderous deet worked!)

botbird84 · 08/01/2020 13:08

@claireb707 I would err on the side of caution and hold out. 3 months feels like forever (we had the same thing last year) but it'll be worth it just for the peace of mind.

MayDay27 · 22/01/2020 07:42

We're looking at booking a honeymoon and hoping to start TTC soon after the wedding. For the honeymoon we were looking at Mexico, Caribbean, Dominican Republic etc does anyone know if there's a site you can see about which countries have Zika virus? Also is it only countries with active Zika virus that are a risk or even if historically they've had cases in the past? If possible we would rather book somewhere with no risk so we are able to TTC soon as possible after the wedding.

claireb707 · 22/01/2020 11:18

publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2019/02/28/why-and-how-the-guidance-for-zika-virus-is-changing/
There's a link about half way down to the countries affected

Breakfastat · 22/01/2020 11:23

Is it not 6 months? I think it’s 8 weeks or something if you go alone but 6 months of your partner has travelled. We waited the 6 months. We’ve now been trying 9 months. If I had known it would take this long I would have just started trying right away. Hindsight though, it’s a funny thing.

MayDay27 · 22/01/2020 14:23

I thought it was 3 months for men and 2 months for women but I might be wrong!

MayDay27 · 22/01/2020 14:23

Thank you for the link

claireb707 · 22/01/2020 15:27

It's changed in the last 18 months now the incidence has gone down and more research has been done.
It's 3 months for male and 2 for female

claireb707 · 22/01/2020 15:29

Here

Breakfastat · 22/01/2020 15:39

Well that’s good for those who are travelling now! It’s not such a long wait

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