iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — If you and your partner are thinking about getting pregnant, there’s a new warning to keep in mind as the Zika virus continues to spread.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidelines for men who traveled to an area affected by Zika or who have symptoms. Previously, men without symptoms were warned by health officials to wait eight weeks before attempting to conceive with their partner, and men with symptoms were told to wait six months.

Now the CDC says all men with possible Zika exposure, regardless of whether they have symptoms, should wait six months before attempting to have a baby, according to the CDC.

The Zika virus can cause birth defects, including microcephaly, a disease characterized by an abnormally small brain and head.

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