Zika risk

[Kitekat81]

Hi all, just wanted to get your thoughts on the Zika risk. We have just come through 3 fairly gruelling back-to-back ivf cycles. Due to my very low ovarian reserve we only managed to collect 2 eggs per cycle, and managed to create 2 embryos in total from 3 cycles of egg collection. We tried transferring 1 embryo straight after the 3rd cycle (which was unsuccessful) and have 1 frozen embryo left. It's been a really tough time and even harder as I had to stay away from home and away from my partner for most of the treatment as our clinic is 4 hours away, so it's been tough on our relationship. I'd really like to take a decent break over Christmas to relax and focus on our relationship, and hopefully (travel restrictions permitting) have a lovely holiday in January, to build up our strength ready to try the 2nd embryo transfer early next year. However, the country we'd love to go on holiday to is on the Zika risk list, and the FET consent form we'll have to sign for our transfer says we can't have been in a Zika risk country in the previous 3 months, and I think I recall seeing somewhere that men can't give sperm within 6 months, so that would affect when we could do another fresh cycle as well (assuming the FET is unsuccessful). I am really torn as we haven't had a holiday for 2 years (partly because of Covid of course, and because we've been focusing on ttc / fertility tests / fertility treatments) and I really feel like we need and deserve a break, but I don't want to have to put off our FET or any further treatments as I'm about to turn 40. Does anyone have an idea of how serious this risk actually is? I remember there being a lot of talk about Zika about 4 or 5 years ago, but haven't heard much about it since. Or alternatively, does anyone have any recommendations of holiday destinations that will be hot, sunny and relaxing in January, but not on the Zika risk list?!x

If you catch zika virus (the symptoms maybe so mild you don't know you have) the virus could stay in your body for a few months. Then this can be passed onto a baby during pregnancy. The birth defects this could cause are microcephaly. I am a childrens physio and work with children with this condition and it is a very serious defect which causes significant impairments in all areas of development and the child would have significant disabilities. I would really advise not going to a Zika country at all whilst pregnancy is something you are wanting. Could you not look at a lovely holiday elsewhere.

I think the risk of Zika is quite a small one in most countries however there is still a risk and when you're already needing help with conception why would you take the chance.
When we got married in we knew IVF was on the cards so went to Mauritius on our honeymoon as it was Zika free it was beautiful and I'd recommend it but I don't know what the weather is like in Jan.

@Donimo thanks for sharing your experience. It feels like such a remote and obscure risk to me, but for you seeing the realities of the potential impact on a child it makes it a lot more real, so thank you for that. @ArtfulScreamer thank you for your thoughts as well, and for your suggestion, I'll look into that! I know I must seem like such a princess, and it's such a first world problem to have (oh no, which lovely holiday destination will we go to!) It's just been a really tough six months and when we thought we might be able to fit in a holiday and go back to somewhere we've been before and loved I felt like such a weight lifted off my shoulders, and then when I realised it was on the Zika list I was gutted. But of course I'm sure we'll find a lovely non-Zika alternative. Thanks for your advice ladies :) xx

You’re not a princes. It’s a totally valid concern especially after everything you’ve been through. I remember having the same concerns on 2019 when I went through ivf. I seem to remember that there’s a private blood test one can do to see if you’ve caught it. Worth checking out Medichecks et al to see if it’s a possibility

medichecks.com/products/zika-virus-antibodies-blood-test-flavivirus

Yes looks like you can get a test to see if you have the virus and/or antibodies

Obviously worth checking with your clinic first to see if they’ll accept the results of the test and go ahead with treatment.

@FETOCT2021 thanks for your understanding, and that's a great tip about the antibodies test! I will check that out and discuss with my clinic. Good luck with your FET! 🤞 x