Preconception Counseling And The Prevention Of Zika Virus

The following is the ASRM update to the Zika guidance document in response to updated CDC guidelines. “In early August, the CDC released an update to their interim guidance for preconception counseling and the prevention of Zika virus transmission. The ASRM guidance document has been updated to reflect the changes and can be found here.

A major change is the recommendation for males with confirmed Zika virus to wait at least three months prior to attempting to conceive rather than six months. This shorter time-period was prompted from a recent study analyzing shedding of the virus in semen.

A table is included in the ASRM guidance document that reflects exposure scenarios and recommended counseling for your patients. Please note that the FDA updated its document on May 2018, and the recommendation for donors remains at six months after possible Zika exposure.”

Because Zika infection during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects, pregnant women should not travel to the areas below. Partners of pregnant women and couples considering pregnancy should know the risks to pregnancy and take prevention steps. All travelers should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and prevent sexual transmission during and after the trip.

For an interactive map, click here or for a downloadable PDF, click here.

If you have any questions on how to prevent Zika virus exposure, please contact us.