Zika Virus: how long should we wait to try to get pregnant?

Our understanding of Zika virus is developing daily.  As many are aware, the link between Zika virus exposure or infection and birth defects (microcephaly) is becoming stronger.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has just issued recommendations on family planning and Zika.

Long story short;

1. If you are a woman who traveled to a Zika endemic area and developed symptoms, wait at least 2 months before trying to get pregnant.
2. If you are a man who traveled to a Zika endemic area and developed symptoms, wait at least 6 months before having unprotected sex.
3. If you are a man or woman who traveled to a Zika endemic area and did not develop symptoms, wait at least 2 months before trying to get pregnant.
4. If you are a man who traveled to a Zika endemic area with a pregnant partner, use condoms for any form of intercourse for the duration of the pregnancy.
5. To prevent the spread of Zika through sexual intercourse, men who have traveled to Zika endemic areas should use condoms for any form of intercourse for 2 months if they did not develop symptoms, and for 6 months if they did develop symptoms.
6. If you are a man or woman living in  a Zika endemic area, then it gets really tricky:
1. The CDC did not recommend that women delay pregnancy.
2. El Salvador has recommended that women wait until 2018 to get pregnant.
3. Brazil, Ecuador, Columbia and Jamaica have recommended that women delay pregnancy indefinitely for the time being.

Please read the link for more detail, and also my previous post on Zika for further information including a description of symptoms of Zika infection.