would you travel to asia when ttc?

[ncob]

Just wanted to check if I'm being paranoid or not - is it safe to travel to Asia (Thailand) while TTC? Got an upcoming family holiday but worried about Zika etc.

According to gov.uk and CIDC there is a risk of Zika in Thailand, even though there’s no current outbreaks. Zika can be very harmful (if not fatal) for the baby if you get pregnant during or even after a trip to an area with any risk of Zika. They advise to not go to areas with the virus if you are pregnant or TTC. Obviously people do travel there - many Americans have their baby moon in Mexico for example, and there’s obviously the natives who would have to be pregnant or TTC whilst living in the affected countries. It’s a low risk, you’re much more likely to be harmed in a car crash, but because it’s something avoidable (getting in to a car might not be!), only you can decide what to do. If you do go, absolutely douse yourself in mosquito repellant, and wear clothes that will not allow a mosquito to get through. Also avoid being outside during high mosquito time frames (early morning and evening) if you can, or reduce time outside during these hours. Even after you’ve visited, it’s advised to wait 2 months after you get back before TTC again - if your partner goes with you this is extended to wait for 3 months because it lasts longer in the semen production than in our bodies. In my personal opinion don’t risk it for the sake of a holiday - me and my partner went to Mexico in January and waited the allotted time before TTC, just on the off chance. I think some clinics around the uk do offer Zika testing once you’re back home to see if you’re infected or not, but this is private, a couple of hundred £, and not foolproof. Best of luck x

@Ksh5460
Hi - thank you for posting. I have just found out that DH has already booked our flights. Slightly panicking but considering all options- go and not TTC until a few months after returning, go and take ALL precautions and hope for the best (a part of me wonders how local thai women must be family planning?!) or just cancel and lose out on the cost of flights. Really not sure what to do.

@ncob a friends husband had to work away in Asia and had a blood test after to check, they carried on TTC.

I think I would wait unless you feel there are very pressing reasons not to like being in very late 30s etc x

I would take a Zika test when you come back if you want to get going straight away. You may not even get bitten by any mosquitos

I had a baby in Thailand and lived in a high risk Zika zone at the time. I did get tested as it was on my mind (it was in the news a lot back then) and testing is cheap here, but it was probably ineffective as obviously we could have picked up Zika at any point after the test, either while TTC or during pregnancy.

I know it seems scary as it's a risk you just don't face in the UK, but Zika has been around a long time and of course people living in Zika countries just get on with it. I think it only came onto our radars in the west because it started being spread in the US; it was a thing long before that, we just weren't aware of it.

In Thailand it barely registers as a concern. But then, this is also a country where (despite what the law says) riding motorcycles with helmets is the norm and seatbelts are hit and miss. The understanding of and attitudes to risk are just different here!

I would definitely recommend lots of repellant and longer clothes, as others have said. But this is the same advice for dengue, which is also fairly common here.

Thanks all.

@Babyenroute How is a Zika test done? I wonder if its possible to do it on our last day in Bangkok as presumably cheaper there? We live in a small town in the UK, I guess would need to travel to London, a quick google search says £150. (This may be more like £600 for blood and urine for myself & DH? Almost the same as sacking off our flights).

@Eledamorena Really insightful, thank you. I cant find much info on where in Thailand the risk is higher? We haven't booked accomodation yet and very happy to avoid higher risk areas. Could I ask where you got tested too please?/the general testing process (as wondering whether its worth getting tested before leaving).

I think I read its an Aedus mosquito that bites during day hours - I cant promise to be covered up in the day when at the beach etc, I'd hope insect repellents are effective. I guess its the days hiking/in the mountains/jungles etc that are more of a worry and finding it frustrating that you wont know whether a bite is from a mosquito or something else (and possible getting Zika asymptomatically)