Pregnant Women

How to protect yourself

Until we know more, CDC recommends special precautions for pregnant women.

Do not travel to an area with Zika

Do not travel to areas with Zika.
If you must travel, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider first and take steps to plan for travel.
Talk with your doctor and consider postponing nonessential travel to countries in CDC’s special travel considerations for Southeast Asia.
If your sex partner travels to an area with Zika, protect yourself from getting Zika during sex.

What to do if you live in or travel to an area with Zika

If you live in an area with Zika, or if you or your sexual partner travel to an area with Zika, follow the steps below to protect your pregnancy.

Take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
Take steps to prevent getting Zika through sex.
Talk with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Graphic of Doctor with a patient

If you…	When to talk with a doctor	When to be tested
Traveled to an area with Zika	Talk to a doctor or other healthcare provider about your travel even if you don’t feel sick.	If you have symptoms of Zika within 2 weeks of traveling, you should be tested for Zika.
If you do not develop symptoms of Zika within 2 weeks of traveling, you should be tested for Zika.
Live in an area with Zika	Talk to a doctor or other healthcare provider throughout your pregnancy.	You may be at risk of getting Zika throughout your pregnancy. For this reason, doctors or other healthcare providers can offer testing At the first prenatal visit and A second test in the second trimester. If you have symptoms of Zika at any time during your pregnancy, you should be tested for Zika.

If you…

When to talk with a doctor

When to be tested

Traveled to an area with Zika

Talk to a doctor or other healthcare provider about your travel even if you don’t feel sick.

If you have symptoms of Zika within 2 weeks of traveling, you should be tested for Zika.

If you do not develop symptoms of Zika within 2 weeks of traveling, you should be tested for Zika.

Live in an area with Zika

Talk to a doctor or other healthcare provider throughout your pregnancy.

You may be at risk of getting Zika throughout your pregnancy. For this reason, doctors or other healthcare providers can offer testing

At the first prenatal visit and
A second test in the second trimester.

If you have symptoms of Zika at any time during your pregnancy, you should be tested for Zika.

Items to discuss with your doctor or other healthcare provider

See your doctor or other healthcare provider if you have the symptoms described above and have visited or live in an area with Zika.

Doctors visit checklist: For pregnant women who traveled to an area with Zika fact sheet thumbnail

Doctor’s Visit Checklist: For Pregnant Women Who Traveled to an Area with Zika

Doctors visit checklist: For pregnant women living in an area with Zika factsheet thumbnail

Doctor’s Visit Checklist: For Pregnant Women Living in an Area with Zika

Zika virus testing for pregnant women living in an area with Zika factsheet thumbnail.

Zika Virus Testing for Pregnant Women Living in an Area with Zika

Zika Virus Testing for Any Pregnant Woman Not Living in an Area With Zika

If you test positive for Zika

A positive test result might cause concerns, but it doesn’t mean your baby will have birth defects.

For Parents: A Positive Zika Virus Test: What does it mean for my child?

For Pregnant Women: A Positive Zika Virus Test: What does it mean for me?

If you test positive for Zika and live in the U.S.

To understand more about Zika virus infection, CDC established the US Zika Pregnancy Registry and is collaborating with state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments to collect information about pregnancy and infant outcomes following laboratory evidence of Zika virus.

US Zika Pregnancy Registry Healthcare Providers: How to Register Patients infographic thumbnail