ZIKA virus is a buzzkill to my honeymoon

Wait 6 months before you TTC or pick a new location.

Sorry but my first thought was first world problems.

If you want a beach honeymoon, consider Thailand or some of the really pretty islands that are off the coast of southeast Asia. They're beautiful and many are sort of undiscovered gems.

My gyno said not to TTC for a year after going anywhere with Zika. Costa Rica and Fiji are similar in terms of activities. You could also do Tahiti/Bora Bora/etc.

Use mosquito repellent. It works well. Talk to your travel agent and PCP as well.

According to CDC it's actually men who are recommended to wait at least 6 months after last possible exposure to TTC, women its only 8 weeks. However still talk to your provider.

here is the link for the CDC's page on TTC.

https://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/women-and-their-partners.html

side note:

@Olivia If it's a honeymoon, the guy would be going as well and they'd have to wait 6 months because of him, right? Or did your doc say that 8 weeks is fine for men and women. My doc was way more conservative at 1 year for both. I think opinions must be all over the place on this since it's so new.

Either way, if OP wants to start TTC at the honeymoon, I don't think I'd risk going anywhere with Zika personally. Why take that chance even if it's low?

@Audrey F - Zika is in Southeast Asia. It is on all the travel advisories if you check the CDC website. We honeymooned there and are waiting at least 6 months before TTC.

Also partners can pass Zika through sex since it can live in semen.

I mean, you are American. ZIka exists in America. Wear bug spray.

Talk to your doctor.

My OBGYN told me that while it doesn't last as long in females, it can last up to 6 months in the male's sperm.

I guess it just depends on your timeline.

Zika is in Florida.

Use bug spray. The chances are low of you getting it anyway. I went to an area and was bit twice but never caught anything. The hype is too big around this. But seriously, if you don't want to get bit by mosquitos in general, one generally uses bug spray.

So confused. How is Zika being in a certain part of the US relevant? It's not in Detroit where OP lives... and I assume OP isn't planning on going to Florida either since she's worried about Zika...

We're going with the CDC recommendations - we're taking a trip to Jamaica before the wedding, and plan to TTC 6 months after we get back - or at least start.

We also planned our honeymoon to Vegas, so we didn't have to bump it back another month of waiting. There is a good chance I will have a harder time than average getting pregnant and carrying to term, so we want to start as soon as we can.

@Linds It sounds like you guys have thought it through really well. I hope everything works out perfectly for you!

Thank you guys for the responses. Im fully aware that Florida is a risk for zika due to it being a high rate for international travel and warm weather. But zika is considered dead in florida where as costa rica is a level 2. FH and i are looking into other options.@linda- im in the same boat as you for TTC so we rather not wait. Thanks for the tip

What's the rush? This sounds like a blessing in disguise. Give yourselves some time to focus on your relationship before you go barreling into parenthood.

@Lisa O.

My family owns two homes in Costa Rica, and my uncle lives there. I have been down there multiple times in the last 6 years (at different times in the year). I can honestly say that I have never once encountered mosquitoes. However, as previous posters have said- bug spray works very well to deter mosquitos (I live in South Louisiana- we have plenty of them so I know from experience). "Off! Deep Woods" works best at home, and you can put it in a checked bag for airlines.