Can Lyme Be Transferred Through Sex?

This is actually highly controversial. There is some evidence that it does indeed get passed sexually, there is some evidence that it can be passed with more casual contact too - but that doesn't equate into proof that it can be passed by those means (no one get offended, please, there is no scientific proof yet).

But, we should be aware that it MAY be passed in those manners, so caution is recommended. Many use 'protection' to protect from sexually contacting it, some have gone as far as to never share drinking glasses, silverware ("share a bite/taste"), and so on.

Now, to be completely open, my husband (we have been married for 17 yrs) refuses to use protection, and we don't share bites/tastes- if he wants to taste something on my plate, he uses his own fork. LOL! Since I'm the one chronically infected, I watch him closely. He's been infected with Lyme, had treatment and healed - but I'm still concerned. Until they prove that it can't be passed in these ways, I feel we should all be very careful.

"My doc is of the opinion that while yes, it can be passed sexually or from mother to child, it is usually not as difficult to treat or as potent as the one who gets it from a tick."

Really? I wonder where he got that from.


I think it's highly probable that it is passed on sexually...but I'm not 'sold' on the saliva yet.

Protection in this house...but still kissing...

Well I think I may just insist that he takes the herbs I'll be taking. He'll probably be all dramatic about it, but oh well, I want what I start doing to be effective. I did tell him that it may could be passed through sex and he said he'll take his chances. Men.... LOL

SapphireBaby said...
Well I think I may just insist that he takes the herbs I'll be taking. He'll probably be all dramatic about it, but oh well, I want what I start doing to be effective. I did tell him that it may could be passed through sex and he said he'll take his chances. Men.... LOL

He may regret that..but only so much you can do...to convince him.

I have no idea how my husband got his lyme disease. Was it from me?? No way to know. He worked a lot on our property this summer but he never had a bite that was seen.

I had lyme for about 4 months between tick bite and diagnosis. I had no idea what I had. I thought it was just a bug bite..... So did he get lyme from me or was it when I tasted the stew and then put that spoon back into the stew?

We just don't know. Hubby refuses to go get tested. He says "you and I both know these symptoms are lyme." And he is right. It is just obvious he got lyme.

So those half used bottles of mine are now his and we are back on the Amazon road of buying tinctures AGAIN! urgh.... Just when I thought we could quit spending on herbs.

gfields said...
Yes. It can.

How many couples both have lyme disease? Almost all.

Spirochetes like to hang out in testicles.

I'm not sure about that statement.

Most people I know with Lyme disease - their spouses don't also have it.

The numbers of people that have these infections and are not being treated properly are astounding. But we also can't assume that nearly every couple have these infections either, even if one does.

I've been with my husband for just over 17 years now, and he got Lyme - on his own, from a tick. We have never used protection, we kiss openly & frequently (sorry, TMI!!) and he still is not reinfected from me. Now he's not the healthiest person around either. He's permanently disabled, has several serious health issues (one blood related) and is on quite a few prescriptions to help keep him alive - yet he has not ever been infected by me from what we can tell.

I was healed when he got infected (I think??) and he never passed his infection on to me from what we can tell. When I got reinfected, I had my own 'special' tick attach and 20 minutes later I had symptoms returning.

This is not to take away from the threat, but surely myself and my husband are not the only ones in a very small group of those that just never pass on infections. Heck, we pass around every virus one of us gets! LOL!

This is a very real threat, but no one knows what the percentage is and we won't know unless "they" get serious about allowing a test to be developed (or back one of the ones that is already created - I know of one!!! But they won't listen to me!) that is much more accurate than what we currently have.

"I think the most common transmission is seminal fluid from the man to the woman." This is the conclusion I came up with as well - although I don't know how much testing has been done on infected women to know.

And, that's the problem - can it happen? yes, but there is simply no way to know of the frequency of it happening. There are very, very few studies on this, so we are left digging for personal experiences.

To be safe, use all the precautions you can, but don't get completely paranoid and not touch anyone. We do still have to live and interact with people, particularly significant others!

I agree with you on the "not knowing" if we were bit by a tick.

Back of the knee, back of the head under the hair...etc...places where we may not know we were bit.

bullseye rashes are often not occurring.


It is possible that my husband passed it on to me...BUT since we've been together we have done a lot of outdoors activities...lots of camping, bike riding in trails, swimming at the lakes...etc.

But, to be safe, as I'm not taking any chances ..... we are using protection...I don't want it passed to him and back to me again...

To add to what Lymepilot is saying about the environment - there are 2 species of mosquitoes that have been proven to not only carry, but are capable of passing Lyme to people and animals - as well as one species of biting flies - the deer fly. It's not just ticks that pass these infections.

That's not to mention the blood supply is not safe from these infections.

For those that are hoping to get their significant other to do something to protect or treat early Lyme, you may be able to only use one herb - astragalus. Buhner recommends it as one of the herbs to prevent infection, and as an early treatment.

robby vieira said...
Yrs I have it and my wife too... we are not outdoorsy people at alll... so we gave to each other

Likely, yes.

But you don't have to be an outdoorsy person to get lyme.

a flea bite, a mosquito bite...and ticks aren't just in the forest.

But this is where things get tricky, I was not sick until 4 years after when I think I was bit. So who's to say partners don't have lyme. May take them years to get symptoms. Or maybe they never will. Too many unknowns to say for sure one way or another.