hep c and sex transmission?

Question

how much of a risk is unprotected sex with somebody with hep c? people tell me different all of the time. i understand that the risk is small, but can anybody explain to me with hep c how small? has anybody passed it to their partner this way? how much does condom use stop the risk? what about getting pregnant by somebody hep c positive? is it a big risk if no blood involved?

this question is asked from a nursing point of view. my partner is not hep c

Answer 1

HCV is not a "true" std because blood would have to infect through an open wound, ie, "blood transmission".

HCV is primarly thought of to infect about .06% through sexual intercourse between monogomous couples. However, this percentage is cut in half because couples usually share razors or toothbrushes that may be more likely to have blood on them and either cut their gums scrubbing or cut themelves shaving. This is called "household exposure".

HCV corpuscles found in saliva, semen, vaginal fluid or tears are not transmittable. HCV is only found active in blood. Even dry blood when reconstituted can infected someone if it enters the bloodstream.

I have two teens and they do not have HCV. I have never given anyone HCV- and have had it longer than I knew what sex was!

Condoms should always be used if your not in a lasting relationship-a person should always respect their bodies!

There are many couples who have been married many years with one partner infected. My best friend is one. Her husband has genotype 1a-the hard to treat genotype and she has two healthy kids and is not infected. Same with my sons baseball coach. He knowing has had HCV for 20 years and his wife is unaffected.

So, given the data, you risk about a .03% chance in monogomous couples and about 14% who share multiple partners (the rise is because STD's are higher in those with more than one partner, leaving to believe more of a risk to transmit the virus through an open wound)

HCV is blood borne only. HCV can reconstitute in liquids. HCV corpuscles found in bodily fluids besides blood are NOT transmittable.

Good luck and respect yourself....wear a condom!

Answer 2

The only risk you have to contracting hep-c during sex is IF your partner is bleeding in the vaginal/penial area. It's a big "if" and I would say that your chances are very small. I know of a couple, one of which had Hep-C for 35 years and the other never contracted the disease. So I guess a condom would protect you from any blood; however, you have to have a way for the blood to get into your body even if you do come in contact with it, like a cut or scrape. So my personal and professional opinion is: there is very little risk.

Godloveya and thanks for asking a question that can definitely benefit others.

Answer 3

+ Hepatitis C has been referred to as a “silent epidemic.” Millions have the condition, but many of them are not aware of it because they may not experience symptoms for decades after they are infected. That’s a big reason why hepatitis testing and treatment are so important.

According to the National Institutes of Health:

* Approximately 1.8% of the U.S. population, or 3.9 million Americans, have been infected with the hep C virus
* About 35,000 new cases of hep C are estimated to occur in the United States each year
* Chronic hep C is now the most common reason for liver transplantation and the leading cause in the U.S. for developing liver cancer.

“Hepatitis” is a Latin word meaning “inflamed liver.” Liver inflammation is often caused by a virus. While many viruses can affect the liver as they spread throughout the body (for example, the infectious mononucleosis virus), the hepatitis viruses infect the liver as their primary target. There are 5 well-characterized types of viral hepatitis, but only 3 are common: A, B, and C. Hepatitis C is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States.

All viral forms of hepatitis can be spread from one person to another, although the ways it is transmitted may differ for each. Hepatitis A can be spread by contaminated food and water, and hepatitis B and C can be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. A single person may be infected with more than one type of hepatitis. Because of the risk of additional liver damage, people with hep C should talk to their doctor about getting a vaccination against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Unlike A and B, there is no vaccine against hepatitis C.

Answer 4

Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). You may be at risk for hepatitis C and should contact your medical care provider for a blood test if you:

were notified that you received blood from a donor who later tested positive for hepatitis C.
have ever injected illegal drugs, even if you experimented a few times many years ago
received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July, 1992
were a recipient of clotting factor(s) made before 1987
have ever been on long-term kidney dialysis
have evidence of liver disease (e.g., persistently abnormal ALT levels)
the link below takes you to a site that explains symptoms and risk! abstenance is the best defense...sounds corny but its true.

Answer 5

Though sexual transmission can occur the risk is extremely low. An increase in the risk is related with promiscuity or coinfection with HIV or in situations when there is a product of blood involved (menstruation, anal intercourse) not using a condom in these situations also increases the risk
Transmission has failed to be proven in monogamous stable sexual partners. After studying 500 monogamous heterosexual couples 16 years only a 2% had hepat.c viral markers on blood though most of them didn't use condom (83%)
the United States Public Health Service tells that barrier precautions between stable monogamous sexual partners are not necessary.

Pregnancy is not a problem if mother is not infected (possible transmission to the fetus)

REMEMBER THAT: condom use is not recommended (in hep c transmission) only in STABLE long term couples, in sporadic relations is highly recommended

Answer 6

I don't think anyone knows. they go back and forth on everything. I guess I have known a woman who had a man that came up Hep C positive but I don't know if she contracted it. Last I heard it takes up to 15 years for it to become active and they can't test for it untill its active. So the study on contracting it is probably all messed up. There are so many ways to get it and how can you pin point it 15 years ago. I do know coke additics spread it through straws, you can get it from needles (of course), Sharing razors or toothbrushes. I can say I have heard its unlikly to get it through sexual intercourse. My grandmothers BF was in Vietnam and that is where he thought he got it. I lived there sence I was 12 and no Hep C popped up yet!

Answer 7

Hepatitis C may be transmitted during unprotected sex (sex without using a condom), although this risk is considered very low.
To know more details how to improve liver , you can refer to :http://adola.net/go/fattyliver-bible/

Hope this useful!

Answer 8

lot's of oudated information folks...heppy's got it most correct!

Answer 9

condoms are usually 99.9% safe!