Pregnant Women

What We Know

• Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
• Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects.
• Zika primarily spreads through infected mosquitoes. You can also get Zika through sex without a condom with someone infected by Zika, even if that person does not show symptoms of Zika.
• There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika.

How to Protect Yourself

CDC recommends special precautions for pregnant women.

Pregnant Women Should Not Travel to an Area with Risk of Zika

• Pregnant women should not travel to areas with risk of Zika (i.e., with documented or likely Zika virus transmission).
• Pregnant women should consider postponing travel to yellow cautionary areas in the United States. For information on domestic travel, see CDC’s guidance.

What to Do If You Live In or Travel to an Area with Risk of Zika

If you live in or must travel to one of these areas, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and practice safe sex.

During travel or while living in an area with risk of Zika

• Take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
• Take steps to prevent getting Zika through sex by using condoms from start to finish every time you have sex (oral, vaginal, or anal) or by not having sex during your entire pregnancy.

After travel

• Talk to a doctor or other healthcare provider after travel to an area with risk of Zika.
• If you develop a fever with a rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes, or muscle pain talk to your doctor immediately and tell him or her about your travel.
• Take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks after returning.
• Take steps to prevent passing Zika through sex by using condoms from start to finish every time you have sex (oral, vaginal, or anal) or by not having sex.