NHS and Zika virus

[Xmishell37]

I'm due to start a fresh cycle with my May period (ER likely early June) and have put my life on hold since starting this whole IVF process last June, the NHS seems quite strict when it comes to going abroad and Im so desperate to get away for a while and forget about everything (probably can only do 5 days due to work), Im keen to book a holiday early July as im high risk for OHSS and got it last time so won't be doing a transfer til August, has anyone else went abroad (to Europe -Spain, Italy, Portugal or France) while doing IVF on NHS and this hasn't been an issue? The letters talk about treatment possibly being delayed by 3 months, does anyone know where I could go where there is absolutely no risk of Zika? Every website I read says something different 😒 xx

[Elsidee11]

Zika generally isn’t in Europe - it’s mainly South America, parts of Africa and South Asia. Go ahead and enjoy your holiday ☺️

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Xmishell. As far as I know I’ve not heard of any Zika virus in Europe. Good luck. Diane

[Twiglet2]

I go abroad constantly to Europe the only place I haven’t been able to go to that I want to for zeka virus in All these years of treatment is Mexico (I will get there one day 🤣) as it comes on and off the list but nowhere else in the list is somewhere you would be really typically see packages holidays to. This is the nhs webpage my clinic link us to that you’ve probably already seen but as you can see Europe isn’t even one of the continents on there so any country in Europe is fine. I am going to mainland Spain in May and Lanzarote in July and was in gran canaria at Christmas time. Enjoy your break 🤗

nhs.uk/conditions/zika/

[Xmishell37 in reply to Twiglet2]

Oh thanks for that link, I was given a letter with about 4 different websites and they are all very confusing, your holidays sound lovely I'm very much going to make sure I get away in July ❤️ and I'm so aware it's a total first world problem I am moaning about here but I genuinely feel like my mental health issues suffering with the weather being so terrible in Scotland 90% of the year 😂 thanks ...roll on this next egg retrieval so i can look out my sunglasses 😎 xx

[Twiglet2 in reply to Xmishell37]

As a fellow Scot I think it should be mandatory we get to see the sun at least twice a year 🤣 and absolutely a wee sunbathe by the pool has reset and saved my mental health many many times on this road to having a baby! I absolutely get it 🤗 xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Twiglet2]

I agree...sunnier climates should be prescribed on NHS! ... It's got to be better than Vitamin D from a bottle, after all it is recommended for fertility 🙃😅 xx

[Forevertrying2]

Hi there, I went to Tenerife before my last FET and my clinic were fine. I asked about Bali as we want to go and they said we would have to wait 6 month after coming home to have treatment - I agreed as it’s not worth the risk so we put that on hold. I’m going to Lanzarote at the end of May and will have my next FET June / July. My clinic is fine with it xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Forevertrying2]

Thank you ❤️ feeling much more reassured with the responses on here and going to start looking at holidays asap 😂 xx

[Christianbaby]

We went to N. Cyprus IVF for DE and got pregnant my 1st try. No Zika. Good luck! x

[Xmishell37 in reply to Christianbaby]

Lovely and congratulations ❤️ I feel like knowing my luck I'll be in the 0.01% that's affected 😅 hope you are keeping well 🙃 xx

[Mercury363]

I had my ivf in Spain. No mention of it at all during my treatment. Go and relax!

[Xmishell37 in reply to Mercury363]

Thank you I think I will ❤️🙃 I need away from this UK climate!! Xx

[Thierry101]

hi lovely, I have travelled before and inbetween ER + transfers, Europe is fine as well as Dubai. Avoid the Caribbean.

They are pretty strict asking the question - but enjoy yourself and go on that holiday x

[Xmishell37 in reply to Thierry101]

Thank you ❤️ one of the nurses told me they might make me sign something just to say I've considered the risks of travelling....which is fine as long as they don't delay my treatment as the waiting about kills me!! Xx

[Choots]

Egypt is also OK!

[Xmishell37 in reply to Choots]

Thank you ❤️🙃 Egypt would be lovely if I had more than 5 days! 😎

[Believers]

The WHO have a map of Zika risk areas and Green areas (no zika). I had to delay a Fet as I had been to the West Indies. You’ll find most of Europe is fine x

[Xmishell37 in reply to Believers]

Thank you ❤️ I did see a map where France was a different colour to the rest of Europe! I'll check again 😃 xx

[Wishinandahopin]

Europe is fine. France is shown as a zika one on the map as they had one case once.

Europe though is fine as is North Africa eg: Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt. Canaries are fine- I went just before my successful cycle!

My friend had ivf on nhs and travelled to Carribean and she was absolutely fine and had the transfer shortly after she returned.

Most places haven’t had any cases since before 2019.

I know it’s all so worrying but it’s so much more important you relax and have a lovely holiday ❤️

Wishing you every luck xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Wishinandahopin]

Thank you ❤️ I do feel like the thought of a holiday has been at the forefront of my mind for the last year and it's much needed as a distraction as well as a break! Just can't wait to get this next egg retrieval out the way ...I've never wished my life away like this before but I'm tired of all the processes and procedures 🙃 xx

[Endofitall]

My clinic specifically listed the countries of concern for us. I think the ones that catch people out most are Florida and Texas. Is there someone you could contact at the clinic to clarify as that’ll be most reassuring for you.

My husband had to travel with work to Florida before one cycle but we just paid the extra for the Zika IgM test x many weeks after his travel.

[Xmishell37 in reply to Endofitall]

I have a phone call with a doctor next week about my treatment so I'm going to ask then, I'm going to suggest Portugal or Italy as that's most likely where I'll end up going 🙃 xx

[Endofitall in reply to Xmishell37]

Sounds great! Yes once you’ve asked at least youve heard from horses mouth and won’t be worried xx