Shingles and Pregnancy: When Can You Try to Conceive?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends waiting at least 1 month after the rash and all symptoms of shingles have cleared before trying to conceive. This will help reduce the risk of passing the varicella-zoster virus, which causes shingles, to your unborn child.

If you are pregnant and develop shingles, it is important to see your doctor right away. Shingles can be serious during pregnancy, and there is a small risk of birth defects if you develop shingles in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

If you are planning to become pregnant, it is also important to make sure that you are up-to-date on your vaccinations, including the varicella vaccine. The varicella vaccine can help protect you from developing shingles.