posted 25 June 2003 11:28               

my 4 year old and husband both have it and we never saw a tick on them (I had both a bite and rash)

does that mean we all passed it around or is it exposure since we live in a highly endemic area and visit Cape Cod once a month to see grandparents?

Better safe than sorry I would use something :-) *grin* until you get this all sorted out..

My hopes that your wife is healthy and has not been exposed to Lyme.

posted 25 June 2003 11:34               

Perhaps it is something like AIDS where males can transmit the disease to females much more easily than females to males.

If you are uncertain, have your wife checked and use protection. I am not a Dr. and do not have anything but anecdotal information and am not advising you one way or another.

posted 25 June 2003 11:51               

quote:

---

Originally posted by linus922:
I've had Lyme for over 5 years, have had unprotected sex with my husband during that whole time and he does not exhibit any symptoms.

Perhaps it is something like AIDS where males can transmit the disease to females much more easily than females to males.

If you are uncertain, have your wife checked and use protection. I am not a Dr. and do not have anything but anecdotal information and am not advising you one way or another.

Linus

---

posted 25 June 2003 12:32               

Treepatrol,

In 2002, theres been posts of studies on this.

posted 25 June 2003 16:51               

I think the male to female transmission rate is also higher because of the amount of bodily fluids exchanged is greater with females receiving fluids. That wording made no sense, but I think you know what I mean.

posted 25 June 2003 16:56               

Maybe some people get exposed to it and their immune system fights it off?

I know many couples (male has Lyme OR female) who NEVER passed it sexually, and who have healthy kids...

...I also know many couples who both have it and believe they passed it sexually.

I think unfortunately the answer is 'unknown' and that is a really really scary thing.

But I don't think it means I should never get married? Especially if the Lyme appears to be in remission or cured, which in my case it does/is.

Hmm...

posted 25 June 2003 17:53               

I'll do both those tests before I engage in anything...thanks for those tips...of course since I won't be married for a while I am in no hurry.

My 'success story' with Lyme is with rife and ICHT. I think antibiotics do nothing but make Lyme worse unless used with ICHT.

Rife would do it alone in my opinion but takes 2-3 years. ICHT kills most active keets and rife keeps them gone.

I still have some big time heavy metal issues that are coming along nicely with proper chelation.

I went from being disabled and suicidal...back to work now, girlfriend, exercising, sleeping normally (no nightmares or insomnia) and only needing 7 hours...I still have the heavy metal stuff to work through but the Lyme is toast. Of course I do still get reactions to the machines.

For more info on my story/opinions you should read my posts on this forum over the last few weeks/months, as well as read my website:
http://hometown.aol.com/theskyking/myhomepage/profile.html

And join my lyme/rife discussion group (read all the archives of this group):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lyme-and-rife/

Best,

posted 25 June 2003 22:50            

OBJECTIVE
Lyme disease, being a spirochete with pathology similar to syphilis, is often found
difficult to treat due to the spirochete invading sanctuary sites and displaying
pleomorphic characteristics such as a cyst (L-form). Because a significant portion of
sexually active couples present to my office with Lyme disease, with only one
partner having a history of tick exposure, the question of possible secondary
(sexual)vector of transmission for the spirochete warrents inquiriy.

Additionally,
sexually active couples seem to have a marked propensity for antibiotic failure
raising the question of sexually active couples re-infecting themselves through
intimate contact.

METHODS: Lyme spirochetes/DNA have been recovered from stored animal
semen. Recovery of spirochete DNA from nursing mother's breast milk and unbilical
cord blood by PCR (confirmed by culture/microscopy), have been found in samples
provided to my office.

RESULTS: Suprisingly, initial laboratory testing of semen samples provided by
male Lyme patients (positive by western blot/PCR in blood) and the male sexual
partner of a Lyme infected female patient were positive approximately 40% of the
time. PCR recovery of Lyme DNA nucleotide sequences with microscopic
confirmation of semen samples yielded positive results in 14/32 Lyme patients (13
male semen samples and 1 vaginal pap).

ALL positive semen/vaginal samples in
patients with known sexual partners resulted in positive Lyme titers/PCR in their
sexual partners. 3/4 positive semen patients had no or unknown sexual partners to
be tested. These preliminary findings warrent futher study. Current a statistical
design study to evaluate the possibility of sexual transition of the spirochete is
being undertaken.

Our laboratory studies confirm the existence of Lyme spirochetes
in semen/vaginal secretions. Whether or not further clinical studies with a larger
statistical group will support the hypothesis of sexual transmission remains to be
seen. A retrospective clinical study is also underway.

We are reviewing the medical
records, collecting semen samples of patients who were previously diagnosed with
current and previously treated Lyme disease are bing asked to provide semen,pap
and blood samples for extensive laboratory testing.

CONCLUSION: With the initially impressive data, we feel the subsequent
statistical sudy on the sexual transmission of the Lyme spirochete will illuminate a
much broader sectrum of public health concerns associated with the disease than
the originally accepted tick borne vector.

Sexual transmission..

See Military on Lyme Disease section..
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/6455/lyme-links-misc.html

Or go directly to link:

http://cassia.org/library/Jama_May15,1996_mednews&perspect.htm

Spring Brings Tick Threat to Peace Enforcers JAMA, May15,1996, Medical News &
Perspective

Comments from Website author: JAMA writes here of a caution for troops in
Bosnia-Herzegovina (which I believe also extends to the Mid-East region) that tick-borne
disease is a danger. They caution that the same risks are additionally associated with
mosquitoes, sand flies, fleas, mites, biting flies, and lice. "Desert Storm
Syndrome" parallels one characteristic of Lyme in that this spirochetal
infection also can be sexually transmitted to spouse.

AS THE HALFWAY point approaches in the year-long North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) peace-enforcement effort in Bosnia-Herzegovina, military are
putting more physicians emphasis than ever on keeping US troops healthy.
US Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps personnel in the former Yugoslavia are
carrying laminated plastic cards reminding them of the diseases that can be transmitted
via various vectors there, particularly ticks (JAMA. 1994;272:337-340 and p 1470 in this
issue). With the arrival of warmer weather, ticks are expected to be a problem until as
late as November.

Although there is talk of a few troops staying longer, November and early December are
when US forces are supposed to withdraw (JAMA. 1996;275:24). President Clinton made
a public pledge to extract US troops within a year of the December 20, 1995, date when
NATO assumed peace-enforcement duties from the United Nations, meaning that
pull-out planning could begin as early as next month.

In the meantime, US Military physicians are concerned about tick-born encephalitis and
Lyme Disease, for which Ixodes ricinus is the primary vector; Crimean-Congo
hemorrhagic fever, for which Hyalomma marginatum marginatum is the primary vector,
and perhaps boutonneuse fever rickettsiosis or Bhanja virus fever, also transmitted by the
bite of an infective tick.

Troops are being urged to tuck their trousers in their boots and otherwise cover their skin
when in tick-infested areas, use tick repellent, check frequently for the presence of ticks
on clothing or skin, and to remove ticks carefully, seeking medical assistance if possible
and applying an antiseptic to the bite site.

What?s more, US troops are reminded that mosquitoes, sand flies, fleas, mites, biting
flies and lice may also present a disease threat in specific locations. Use of
repellents and "maintaining good personal hygiene" are urged.

In addition, there is the potential for hantavirus (Bunyaviridae family) infection, a cause
of hemorrhagic fever or respiratory problems, and thought to result from direct contact
with, or inhaling, dust contaminated by infected rodents' excretions. Thus, rats, mice,
squirrels, voles, and other rodents also are a concern for the military in the Balkans
(JAMA. 1996;275:422 and Lancet. 1996;347:30), and troops are being cautioned to
"mist" or lightly spray previously unoccupied areas to avoid dust inhalation before
mopping or sweeping preparatory to moving in.
Removing trash and sources of water, sealing tiny wall openings, and using repellents can
reduce the chance of disease transmission from rodents, the troops are advised. They are
told to seek immediate medical assistance if bitten or scratched by a rodent.

The US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen (Md)
Proving Ground, has been working on these and other health-precaution efforts. As
always, American GIs have their own name for the laminated materials, calling them
"tick cards."

So far, there has been no major increase in illness or injury among US troops
participating in the peace-enforcement effort. John G. Jernigan, MD, the US Air Force
brigadier general-designee who is command surgeon, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air
Force Base, Ill, says that, to date, there has been no increase in demand for aeromedical
evacuation above that normally required to support US troop activity in Europe other
than Bosnia-Herzegovina.

--by Phil Gunby

http://www.centurytel.net/tjs11/bug/l13.htm

All the other clinicians with whom the authors spoke agreed that Lyme has reached
epidemic proportions. How is this possible? Obviously 25% of Americans haven't been
bitten by one of a select few species of ticks. The answer is that Lyme is not transmitted
just by ticks.

"Of the more than 5,000 children I've treated, 240 have been born with the disease," says
Dr. Jones, who specializes in Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. "Twelve children
who've been breast-fed have subsequently developed Lyme. Bb can be transmitted
transplacentally, even with in vitro fertilization; I've seen eight children infected in this
way.

People from Asia who come to me with the classic Lyme rash have been infected by
fleas and gnats."

Gregory Bach, D.O., presented a study on transmission via semen at the American
Psychiatric Association meeting in November 2000. He confirmed Bb DNA in semen
using the PCR test (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Dr. Bach calls Bb "a brother" to the
syphilis spirochete because of their genetic similarities. For that reason, when he treats a
Lyme patient in a relationship, he often treats the spouse; otherwise, he says, they can
just pass the Bb back and forth, reinfecting each other.

Dr. Tang adds other avenues of infection: "Transmission may also occur via blood
transfusion and through the bite of mosquitoes or other insects." Dr. Cowden contends
that unpasteurized goat or cow milk can infect a person with Bb.
http://www.explorepub.com/articles/enderlein3.html
Synthesis of the Work of Enderlein, Bechamps and other Pleomorphic Researchers

posted 25 June 2003 22:51               

My husband and I both have Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Babesia.

I was sick over a year before he showed any sx. He has no hx of tick bites; I do, and had the bulls eye rash.

The rare times that we "fooled around" without using protection, he always had a flareup within the next day or two. In fact, that is how he first exhibited sx at all.

When we went to our LLMD with this information, he said, "You had better use protection just in case." Many doctors are now convinced that Lyme is sexually transmittable. The jury is still out on other tick borne diseases.

posted 30 June 2003 16:57            

This topic as well as congenital transmission were touched on in the recently published paper titled:

'Lyme Disease': ancient engine of an unrecognized borreliosis pandemic?

here's an example:

"The CDC position on sexual intra-human Bbsl transmission is that it does not occur(17). We find no study that addresses sexual transmission of Bb among humans; conversely, we find no study supporting that is does not occur. Inferential data, however, suggest the possibility of human sexual transfer. . . . Our clinical experience strongly suggests that predictable, possibly inevitable Bbsl transfer between sexually active couples occurs. . . . "

So, basically - I'd always be conservative and would rather be "safe than sorry"!!

I can remember when they first studied AIDS and told us in an "information session" at work - that it was a disease confined to the homosexual population - we've seen how wrong that was.

Just my opinion tho!!!
Sherry R

------------------

posted 30 June 2003 19:29            

Dr. Bach spoke in Salisbury, MD on saturday, june 21st.

The release mentioned the published article: Recovery of Lyme Spirochetes by PCR in Semen Samples of Previously Diagnosed Lyme Disease Patients.

Got my attention.

I was outta town and could not go.
Did anyone go to this seminar?

posted 12 September 2003 19:16            

Of course it could just be being married to me . . . .

Horrifying to think you could pass this to a loved one. Just makes you sick(er).