I now about the vector transmission and read about the possibility of fetal/mother transmission or breast milk transmission.
How about, is passed through sexual activity?
Someone mentioned to my husband that it is & he's freaking out. Is this true? I find it hard to believe.
Thanks for any advice Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
My LLMD, one of the best in the world, says no.
Posted by LightAtTheEnd (Member # 24065) on :
There are a lot of spouses who are not infected, and the few that are could easily have gotten bitten by a tick in the same location as their spouse or on a different occasion.
I think if it were transmissible by sex, most spouses would get it after years of living with someone with Lyme, but they don't.
I don't believe there have been any studies in humans, and it would be very difficult in any case because we don't have accurate testing to prove who has Lyme and who doesn't.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Some say it happened to them, but they could also have been bitten by a tick and not have known it.
I've been married 37 yrs and my husband is fine. We only found out 10 yrs ago that I had Lyme and I'd had it since I was 8.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I've had lyme since before I met my husband of 25 years. He does not have Lyme.
My LLMD says no.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
My current LLMD thinks it is contagious. Also, my past LLMD thought it was highly probable. It still doesn't mean everyone will get it through intimate contact (just like some people get the flu and some don't). But it is not outside the realm of possibility.
It is a distant cousin to syphilis......
Posted by rosiegeorge (Member # 27518) on :
thanks all for the feedback
Posted by troutscout (Member # 3121) on :
Both of my LLMD's and the ND's I know all believe it or suspect sexual transmission
Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
There's plenty of evidence that's just now coming out that says it can be passed on through sexual activity. I know many people (including LLMD's) would like to believe otherwise, but I think the evidence is becoming more and more convincing that it can be spread through sexual intercourse.
If it can be passed to a mothers baby through her breast milk, why would we think it could not be given to our spouses through sexual relations? Of course, I think it's less likely to be passed from woman to man, but it can't be ruled out.
Dr Klinghardt says, "Bb spirochetes go after the immune system. They can likely be transmitted sexually via the urethra. Spirochetes live off of our collagen and connective tissue".
Not what we'd like to believe, but better to be safe than sorry.
Gary
[ 08-15-2010, 12:36 AM: Message edited by: gwb ]
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Gary, why would a LLMD not want to believe this? It would mean more potential revenue from a business perspective, right? Test every patient's spouse and then try to treat them too. I think the LLMDs who say it's not possible truly believe it.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
THE Dr. R (NYC) thinks sexual transmission is highly unlikely and says to, "{sigh}... just have fun." (August 2009, Portsmouth NH, post-U.O.S. showing)
Personally, I think it's Possible, but the "avenue" of entry is a lot more hostile than a free injection into an immuno-suppressed bite area, so to speak.
Plus, the 'ketes disembarking the Tick have had a chance to "sense your blood" for a few hours & "make some adjustments" in their outer protein coating (Osp-C layer) to help evade your immune system, hence the lack of significant antibodies to "test" for... atleast for the 1st few weeks.
Then old Lyme spirochete "pieces" start showing up, of predictable lengths... & there's your 18, 23, 30, 31, 34, 37, 39, 83 & 93 kPa (length) anti-body stimulation!! ;-)
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
All I know is that I have Lyme. I have three children. One of those children has a history of tick bite in the state we use to live in. The other two don't even know what a tick looks like. All of them have Lyme disease. My youngest having symptoms as a toddler and then developing fibromyalgia at age 3. My husband who I have been married to for 12 years had absolutely no symptoms until a few years ago and no known tick bites. Now he is sick and positive for Lyme. My LLMD absolutely believes that Lyme disease is transmitted sexually, congenitally and through breast milk. Sorry but from my experience I trust what I see.. not what a doctor may or may not have as an opinion.
Posted by we'll win (Member # 11112) on :
I believe Lyme can be sexually transmitted, and through other ways than only sexual intercourse, perhaps even through kissing.
I am not a doctor. I do believe I gave Lyme to someone. Sorry to be so pesimistic. But truth is good.
we'll win...eventually
Posted by rosiegeorge (Member # 27518) on :
Went to the doctor yesterday and she said that it is sexually transmitted but only if your partner has a weakened immune system. My spouse of 8 years has never been sick
Posted by peacemama (Member # 17666) on :
I'm with rosiegeorge.
My husband was fine until he had 2 sick kids (lyme), a sick wife (lyme) and had to work 5 jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food and meds in our bodies.
I'd like to look at stressors and genetics on sexually transmitted lyme. Are lower income couples more likely to get infected by their partners because of the financial stress?
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