Does it make sense to freeze semen if you travel to countries with Zika as Pau Gasol is thinking?

The statements of basketball player Pau Gasol about his intention to freeze his sperm before traveling to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games have been sounded. He has just confirmed that he will travel but with "some concern" about the Zika epidemic. And it's not the only one. There are also other worried athletes, such as the British long jump champion, Greg Rutherford or the American volleyball coach, John Speraw, who have confirmed that freeze your sperm before traveling to avoid any problems if you are infected.

There are those who consider it an excess of prudence after the Spanish Olympic Committee and the Higher Sports Council said that "there are no risks", but the truth is that the concern continues. The question that may arise to many people traveling to countries at risk is Does it make sense to freeze semen if you travel to countries with Zika as Pau Gasol is thinking?

How is Zika spread?

Zika virus is transmitted by mosquito bites Aedes aegypti, also bearer of dengue and Chikungunya. It was first identified in 1947 in Uganda, specifically in the forests of Zika, hence its name.

From the moment of the bite it can take between three and 12 days of incubation, although after this period, not all people develop symptoms. Only one in four.

Not much is known about the way in which the infection is transmitted. And although the mosquito is the main route of infection by biting people, there is increasing evidence that its sexual transmission is not only possible, but more frequent than previously believed.

There is evidence of sexual transmission (as of May 19, 2016, 12 cases of sexual transmission of Zika virus had been published) and blood. This is worrisome due to the association between Zika virus infection and complications such as microcephaly, Guillain-Barré syndrome and other neurological disorders.

As for other body fluids, its presence in saliva and urine has been detected, but for the moment the infection through breast milk has been ruled out due to lack of evidence.

Can you spread Zika sexually?

What is the concern of Gasol and that of other athletes? His fear is be infected by the virus through any of the possible ways of infection, although this possibility is very scarce since in the villa where the Olympic athletes will be staying everything will be very controlled to avoid any risk.

There is also the possibility of becoming infected and, given that there has been evidence of the presence of the virus in the semen, transmit it sexually (vaginal, anal and oral) to another person.

To date, all cases of sexual transmission have occurred from a symptomatic male to his partner through sexual activities that have taken place before, during or after the onset of symptoms of Zika virus disease. It is not known for sure if women or asymptomatic men can transmit the virus through sexual intercourse.

The case of greater persistence of the Zika virus in semen registered until today is 62 days after the onset of symptoms, so as a prevention, the WHO recommends that people returning from regions affected by the virus use a condom for 8 weeks if they have no symptoms and for 6 months if they have had symptoms.

How to prevent the spread of Zika?

WHO collects its recommendations (provisional, because they can be modified as more is known about the virus) in its guide to preventing sexual transmission of Zika virus, whose main points are:

  • When the placenta crosses the virus and can affect the baby in gestation, it is recommended to sexual partners of pregnant women living in areas with local transmission of the virus, or back from them, that use condoms to prevent sexual transmission or suspend sexual intercourse during pregnancy.

  • That couples or women who are planning a pregnancy and return from areas where it is known that there is local transmission of the virus wait at least 8 weeks before trying to conceive to allow time for a possible Zika virus infection to resolve; the term will be extended to 6 months in case the couple's man is symptomatic.

Does it make sense to freeze sperm?

Returning to the concern of Gasol. The risk of contracting the virus is very low, taking into account that in the Olympic village where the athletes will be staying, all precautions will be taken to avoid mosquito bites and it has been said that 450 thousand condoms (42 per athlete) will be distributed to avoid possible sexually transmitted infections. But zero risk does not exist and we must not forget that the virus is evolving and new data are becoming increasingly known in terms of contagion, survival, consequences, etc.

With what we know so far, it may make sense to freeze semen in men who travel regularly to these countries and are planning to conceive in the short term. Otherwise, it would be enough to pass a six month security period before attempting to conceive.

But, of course, Pau Gasol is completely free to freeze his semen If that gives you peace of mind before a possible contagion. In short, he has expressed concern that it can be extended to other athletes and men traveling to affected countries. The key is to be well informed and based on this assess the situation and make the decision that is considered most appropriate for each.

Video: PTSD Symptoms: What does it mean to freeze in a traumatic sense? (March 2024).