Zika Mexico June 2018

8 replies

jadefm1989 · 09/10/2018 22:28

My husband and I travelled to Riviera Maya in June 2018 for our honeymoon. We are from the UK. We were aware of Zika but it wasn’t in the forefront of our minds as I have the contraceptive implant and wasn’t planning on TTC whilst we were on honeymoon. Whilst I was there, I was shocked to see the amount of pregnant women staying at our hotel, there were at least ten so I thought perhaps the scare behind zika had dropped.

Now three months on - husband and I would like to start trying for a baby. We have waited the three months like the CDC advises but have not been using condoms during that time. I have had a real panic now - have we just been wasting time? Have we just been reinfecting one another if we did have Zika? My husband did not get bitten in Mexico but I did get a few bites. Neither of us had any Zika symptoms.

I really don’t know what to do now. I have visited my doctor but my doctor did not seem to know a whole lot about Zika, my doctor basically googled Zika in my appointment!

I am feeling very stressed, I would like to have my implant removed now after waiting three months but have stopped myself making the appointment as my husband and I have not been using condoms in this time. It’s hard to find up to date information online and reports are conflicting and I also keep reading that once you have had Zika you are immune to it, so would it even be possible to keep passing the virus to each other?

Neither of us have been tested as I understand the tests are not 100% accurate and it has been over 12 weeks since we have been home from Mexico.

I have nobody to talk to about this, any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

OP posts:

Atseablue · 09/10/2018 22:46

It's a possibility. It may be worth getting tested for it if you are planning to conceive.

jemimafuddleduck · 09/10/2018 23:04

Get tested. We have just been to a zika country and are about to have ivf. The clinic are happy to accept the results of the tests as us being clear of it.

Fairypiggy · 09/10/2018 23:12

I think zika can be present in semen for up to six months so the usual advice is to delay TTC for six months.

Thetimehascometo · 09/10/2018 23:14

We went to the Dominican in August and conceived (unplanned) in October. I mentioned it to Gp, midwife and consultant... none seemed remotely concerned as we hadn’t had symptoms. DD is now here happy and healthy. I guess that was just our experience though

unicornchaser · 10/10/2018 05:28

I think the guidelines are 3 months if it is just you who has been to a zika environment but 6 months for your husband (or both together)
Zika is definitely still a big risk in Mexico but I guess some people either aren't fully aware of that or of the risks of it hence the pregnant women being there.

If you mistakingly get pregnant then chances are baby will be fine, but I wouldn't take the risk for the sake of a few more months. We changed our Mexico holiday to Lanzarote this year knowing we were wanting to ttc and not wanting to take the risk.

DoveGreylove · 10/10/2018 08:37

We have waited the three months like the CDC advises but have not been using condoms during that time How does that work!?

If you go to a zika country with your other half then you're supposed to wait SIX months to have unprotected sex (including oral) as tests have shown zika can remain in a mans semen for this long and consequently be passed on to you and potential baby.

One of you still may have contracted the virus even if you don't have any symptoms and even if you haven't seen a bite mark. Some mosquito bites are invisible to the human eye as it just depends on how you react to it.

I would both go get tested with the Zika Virus Antibodies test just to be sure! And refrain from unprotected sex until the 6 month mark is up. I'm sure you're fine but the risk was there in Mexico so i'd be careful.

LauraL00 · 10/10/2018 11:06

NHS/UK advice is to wait 6 months as others have suggested, think the CDC is American. Also, i thought they only tested you if you had symptoms when you came back.

We honeymooned in South East Asia, when we booked there was no Zika risk but when we got home realised it was. After 1 month returning i stopped the pill and we used condoms as i wanted to get the monthly cycles going (was on the pill where you don't get periods for 5 years and 35 years old.) Worked out well, after the 6 months on the first ovulation we conceived, now 13 weeks pregnant and all going well.

It may sound like overkill, but for the risk its better to wait the advised time. Good luck :)

MrsAJG · 10/10/2018 13:13

We also travelled to Riviera Maya in May this year and we are following advice on the gov.uk website which advises that couples should follow guidance on prevention of sexual transmission of Zika and avoid conception while travelling and for up to 6 months on return from a moderate or high risk country. Mexico is currently classified as having a moderate risk so I would wait another 3 months.

The CDC is run by the US Department of Health and Human Services so based on the fact you are in the UK I would think its probably better to follow UK advice.
Good Luck!!

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