Is Lyme Sexually Transmitted?

Does anyone know where I can find more info as to whether or not Lyme Disease is sexually transmitted? I am really worried that I have it. You see, back in 1998-1999 I was living with what was my fiancee at the time and she had Lyme Disease. According to her doctors she had it for many years before being diagnosed. When we were together she was on tons of meds because she had mental as well as physical manifestations of the illness. We had unprotected sex many times because she assured me that it couldn't be spread through sex. Since then we have broken up and have gone our separate ways, but in the last year or so I have been having alot of the same symptoms that she had. If I go to my doctor and ask to have a Lyme Test done and explain to him my fears, he will think I am a moron won't he? Has anyone on here ever heard of Lyme being passed through sex? PLEASE HELP!

Although sexual transmission is not 100% proven, it is possible. Another big possibility in your case is that you also got bit by one of those teeny, tiny ticks that you rarely notice! Especially since your symptoms go back to 1994, which seems to be before you were having unprotected sex with your ex lymie fiance.

Your symptoms may not have been as bad back then because your immune system could have been fighting it to some degree and now it can't. I believe I got this 8 or 9 years ago and my symptoms got so much worse about 7 years into it. But the good thing, is that I am 95% better now, even going undiagnosed all that time! I was on oral abx for 17 months and am now just rifing and using light therapy. Only thing bothering me now is my left ear feels full and sciatic pain (probably both not even lyme related, although the ear could be fungal related from being on abx for so long- trying to figure it out still- it is slowly getting better).

yes, it is very controversial. some llmds think yes, some think no, some say they don't know... there just isn't enough research about this (or enough research on anything concerning lyme). it is tough because most of us don't remember a tick bite anyway, so it is possible that the other person got one too. they are all over the place.

There has been at least one case where a doctor has actually found Bb bacteria in semen.

abanana07,

The poster who said that Lyme is in the same family as syphilis hit the nail on the head - we negatively attribute syphilis as an STD, but don't expect Lyme to be transmitted the same way? That type of thinking is a bit absurd, that's like saying HIV-2 isn't transmitted the same way as HIV-1. I'll give you the out of saying that *maybe* Lyme isn't as infectious as Syphilis, but I'd expect any blood to blood contact and/or sexual fluid exchange with a Lyme infected person to be a potential transmission for Lyme.

Considering the general apathy of the medical and government people towards Lyme, I doubt that anyone would scientifically and seriously pursue culturing Lyme from penile or vaginal fluids for the "proven" statement you desire. But using common sense, if I had unprotected sex with a pre or post menstrual woman (or even a woman who is spotting), I'd be coming in contact with Lyme infected blood. Would you really expose your sex organ to Lyme infected blood and not expect to get infected?

Lyme spirochetes have been found in semen, although it's been proven to be in breast milk and can pass through the placenta to an unborn baby. Since there is relatively little money being devoted to Lyme Disease research, a study has not been done to find out just how often the spirochetes can be found in semen. I still wouldn't risk giving this disease even one more patient if I had a choice!

To see more about this subject, use "Google Scholar" and type in the search terms "Lyme, Semen".

I really wonder about this too. My husband never gets bitten by anything...it is always me. He does not exhibit any outward signs of Lyme and we have been together for 35 years and I may have had this for over 30 years. So if he carries it, but does not show signs could he re-infect me? I just don't know what to think...testing is so expensive but maybe he should be tested. What do others think?

This is very interesting, as I've wondered for years why some people get Lyme & some don't. My dad is a very active 65 yr old who has spent probably half his life in the woods, hunting, fishing, camping. He is rarely sick.

Maybe he just is "lucky" & is asymptomatic & has a great immune system...

Although, my husband & I have wondered about something for awhile: back in the day(not sure what year) my dad got the Lyme vaccine, before they pulled it. Any thoughts on if that could be what's keeping him well?? 

WorryPot,

The only conclusive way to know if Lyme can be transmitting sexually is to do actual lab testing to that effect - expose lab animals' sexual tract to Lyme infected sexual fluids, and then test for Lyme infection. Then the whole "what if" would be put to bed for good. Personally, I'm betting that Lyme IS sexually transmitted, but again, scientific studies are required to conclusively rule that in or out.

Best wishes.

????? So if your with the same partner who you think infected you with lyme then wouldnt they keep re-infecting you every time you have sex ???????

Unfortunately, there is plenty of evidence that shows not only sexual transmission, but transmission by breast milk and through the placenta - which is why it's suggest that women not "try" to become pregnant until after they have completed their treatments.

This in no way says that all who are exposed will get the infection - as has been said already - some just don't ever become symptomatic, and some never show any evidence of being infected.

Purplegirl, that's a hard one to answer unless the other person gets tested and the test comes back positive - then you go through testing as well. If the strains are the same and there's no way you were infected on your own, then some docs will say that you got it from your partner. Although..... we already know how the tests are just not accurate, and the infections can be acquired from mosquitoes, fleas, bed bugs, and many other insects, so that throws a couple of monkey wrenches into the whole thing as well. The best thing you can do is to take "precautions".