Karen Reynolds Acupuncture

Tactics to keep your pregnancy safe from Zika Virus

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Safety tactics with respect to Zika virus are of particular concern to pregnant women and women seeking to become pregnant.

Protect Your Pregnancy from Zika
On Sunday, April 17th the television show Face the Nation included an interview with director, Dr. Anthony Fauci, MD of the the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). As an expert in infectious disease, Dr. Fauci spoke about updated information about Zika virus.

I discussed Zika virus in my prior blog on March 8, 2016 entitled Zika Virus Pregnancy Risks {Please scroll down on my blog to view that article} As with any viral risk, acupuncture is a tool for boosting your natural immune status. This is a benefit that my pregnant or seeking to be pregnant clients find. Below are important recommendations from the experts about how to reduce your exposure risk. 

To review: this virus is spread by infected mosquitoes in South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. Please see the table below for specific countries cited by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as places known for active outbreaks and infection risk.

Symptoms of Zika Virus

Rashes,  Joint pains,

Fever,  Red eyes

Symptoms last for approximately a week. Rarely do these symptoms require hospitalization.

Pregnant women exposed to this virus are at high risk for having babies born with microcephaly. Children with microcephaly have heads and brains which are significantly smaller in size. They typically also will have problems with speech, vision, balance, swallowing, and learning abilities.

Dr. Fauci confirmed that at this time all 350 state-side cases of Zika were contracted from travel abroad.

Zika can be sexually transmitted. The virus is not completely understood at this time so there are many questions about how long it remains communicable once a person is infected. There is also not standard or easily accessible testing at this time for Zika. The NIAID is seeking funding for development of a vaccine as well as funding for public health measures.

 

How do you best protect yourself?

If you are attempting to get pregnant or actively trying to conceive it is wise to consider if your sexual partner has visited any of the involved transmission countries. If so: NIAID suggests at least 6 months of safe sex practices with a barrier method and recommends not attempting to become pregnant for a period of 6 months from the time of return to the US from a high risk area.Tactics 4 Safe Pregnancy & Zika Virus 2

 

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has also published a recent pdf entitled Guidance for Providers Caring for Women and Men of Reproductive Age with Possible Zika Virus Exposure.

ASRM recommends:

  • Women who have had Zika virus should wait 8 weeks after symptoms started to attempt reproduction.
  • Men having had Zika virus disease wait at least 6 months after symptoms started to attempt reproduction.

 

Here is the position of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding sperm donors, egg donors and donors of embryos. The following are the specifics which will make donors ineligible:

  • In the last 6 months: a medical diagnosis of Zika virus infection.
  • In the last 6 months: travel to any area with active Zika virus transmissions.
  • In the last 6 months: sex with a male partner having had Zika virus disease, any illness similar to Zika virus, or travel to an area of active Zika virus transmission in the 6 months prior to sexual contact.

 

Tactics 4 Safe Pregnancy & Zika Virus

Countries where Zika virus is currently being found:

Africa, Brazil, the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia and Uganda.

 

US Territories where Zika Virus is currently being found:

American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

 

Are women in your community discussing Zika virus? If so please feel free comment leave comments, ask questions, or share this article.

If you found this article helpful, I would appreciate you liking my Facebook page at:

Karen Reynolds, LAc, RN Acupuncture for Optimal Health 

All content here is written personally by me in with the goal that it is be helpful to you. As long as you include the link for this blog entry to credit me as the author, it is fine to repost or share if you wish.

 For scheduling information and appointment availability, do please visit my website at: KReynoldsAcupuncture.com.

Zika Virus Pregnancy Risks

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Hello from Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist and RN in Corte Madera, CA. In my acupuncture practice, I work with pregnant women and women trying to conceive. I’m noticing concern right now about Zika virus pregnancy risks. This article is about Zika virus pregnancy risks and how to protect yourself.

Mosquitoes spread the Zika virus; but keep in mind that does not mean all mosquitoes. It is specific mosquitoes in specific countries. If an infected mosquito bites a person, they typically will have a week of symptoms such as: rashes, joint pains, fever and red eyes. Many people do not even realize they have been infected, because the symptoms are mild and rarely cause trips to the hospital. If you are pregnant and worried, below are statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). I hope these put your mind at ease.

Countries where Zika virus is currently being found:

Africa, Brazil, the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia and Uganda.

US Territories where Zika Virus is currently being found:

American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. 

 

As of March 2, 2016
Zika virus pregnancy risksThe number of Zika cases having occurred in the continental US is ZERO.
The number of Zika cases developing after travel abroad is 153.

What are the Zika virus pregnancy risks?
Babies with microcephaly have been born to women, bitten by infected mosquitoes. Microcephaly is when a baby’s head and brain are significantly smaller in size. These children can have problems with speech, vision, balance, swallowing, and have a decreased ability to learn.

What to keep in mind if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant?
During the first week a person has Zika virus, the virus is found in the person’s blood. That is how it is passed to the fetus of pregnant women. That also means it can be passed from an infected person to a sexual partner.
Men infected with Zika virus will have the virus in their semen (the fluid containing sperm). The virus also stays in the semen longer than in the bloodstream. If you are pregnant and your sexual partner has traveled to any areas noted above, use condoms during all sexual intercourse as well as all oral sex.Zika virus pregnancy risks

Please note that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website is wealth of knowledge. It has additional information about Zika virus pregnancy risks, traveling, and the best ways to protect against mosquito bites. Fortunately we are not seeing Zika virus outbreaks in the US and known cases in our country have occurred after travel abroad.

Safe sexual practices along with travel awareness will give you the best chance of avoiding exposure and having a healthy pregnancy and baby.

I hope this article is helpful and sets your mind at greater ease. All content is written personally by me. Please enjoy and feel free to share with me your thoughts or questions here. As long as you include the link for this blog entry to credit me as the author, it is fine to repost or share this article if you wish. For scheduling information and appointment availability, do please visit my website at: KReynoldsAcupuncture.com.

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