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Avatar universal

concerned about risk

On 8/11 my husband & I had sex.  HE has had HEP C.  I have in 20 years not contracted it.  I am POST menopause.  MY question: I had during sex a "dry spot" that I was aware of....after a couple mins. it subsided.  Then, my husband climaxed and semen burned.  IT HAS IN THE PAST.  (probably from the thinning of my lining.) This time it seemed to burn more than usual.  Anyway, when I cleaned myself, I had a light pink on the toliet tissue.  NOT a lot...just a couple spots.  I AM concerned if I could have contracted the virus.  What is the chances of that happening.  I am 55, in very good health and shape.  I take many supplements for cell support,etc.   What would be the initial symptoms and within how many days or weeks would I see an indication.  I can't believe after all these years I am faced with a possiblity of this.  Help.
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Avatar universal
Cat was he bleeding? I believe, mind we are not docs here that hepc is blood to blood that would mean he would have to have a bleeding wound while he was having sex with you, so if it was just your blood i think transmission chances would be very low...
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Avatar universal
With certain medical conditions, blood can be contained in both semen and urine -- assuming it was your husband's blood you found. Usually, the blood is microscopic and cannot be seen by the human eye but not necessarily.

If this was the case, you would have to have some sort of tear/open sore, etc, to make blood to blood contact. Sexual transmission of HCV is uncommon but apparently does happen. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it both from a statistical point of view and because what is done is done. However, getting a follow-up HCV blood test probably isn't a bad idea.
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Avatar universal
if any one is at risk of infection it would be the female, because the semen remains in the canal for a few days, so there is more time for the virus to come in contact with a tear, if there was one.  Get tested a couple of months from now, to see if there are antibodies for hep c in your blood.  
I have heard of aids like Replens and Vagifem that might help with the dryness issue.
take care
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Avatar universal
The blood spot was apparently from me.  I guess the risk is LOW....but I wondered if I would recognize symptoms within days...and what are the symptoms.  I feel better knowing that it's basically blood to blood. I do take immune boosters and a host of other herbs to keep my body healthy.
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Avatar universal
"The blood spot was apparently from me. I guess the risk is LOW....but I wondered if I would recognize symptoms within days...and what are the symptoms. I feel better knowing that it's basically blood to blood. I do take immune boosters and a host of other herbs to keep my body healthy."

No the are no Immediate symptoms. Not sure why after 20 years you decided to be concerned now. As others have said if it does concern you get tested but wait a while and in future use a condom jus to play it safe.

Keeping your body healthy is always a good idea but it is not going to stop you from getting hep c if you don't play safe
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Avatar universal
It is my understanding the virus can not be passed thru semen during sex it is unike the AIDS virus in that way. He would have to be bleeding and she would have to have an open sore. Cuteus, do I have that wrong? I posed this specific question to the dotor and I was told he would have to be bleeding.
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Avatar universal
After 20 years of not worrying I wouldn't really sweat it now.  The chances are LOW but there IS always a chance which is why they recommended safeR sex practices.

If you are concerned get a blood test to determine.  It's the ONLy way you will know. I've had this for 25 years and had no symptoms or any idea that I did.

PS My exhusband was hepC positive.

Has your husband ever done ANYTHING to see how much liver damage he has or is he just ignoring the disease and hoping for the best?

It sounds like you could both use some bloodwork but that isjust my opinion.
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Avatar universal
I agree with NYGirl For peace of mind you can take a test to reassure you you didnt contract it but I believe you need to wait some time first as it doesnt show up right away. I think it is 6 weeks but ask the doctor. Try not to worry too much.
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Avatar universal
Thanks everyone.  I guess I had a concern because now I am post menopause and the lining is thin....my husband keeps his tests with doc. about every 6 months.  actually he has been on a natural remedy for a couple years.  Thanks again everyone for the input.  It certainly helped.
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Avatar universal
Just make sure he knows that natural remedies don't work to cure the disease.  NONE of them.

Someday he might want to have a quick biopsy to make sure he's not got too much liver damage.  I didn't even know i had this disease at all - and I am already a Stage 3 out of 4.

I was VERY lucky to find out by accident that I had this so I could try and kill it, before it was too late.
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Avatar universal
the risk is very low, but nevertheless a risk. This is what I found out a couple of yrs back
"There are studies that have shown HCV RNA in semen and in vaginal secretions in a low amount, in patients with hepatitis C."..."The risk is about three times higher for a woman to become infected if her male partner is HCV positive than for a man who has a female HCV positive partner. So it is not zero but it is a fairly low chance."  He does not need to be bleeding.

this is the article
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/Donovan-1.html

even with those low odds, I did not want to take the chance of infecting my partner, although I would have been more at risk had he been pos and me negative.  If there is a tear in the vagina, that low amount of virus in the semen can find its way into the blood, easier.  We just met Auita, who was infected anally due to damage to the tissue in the area.  He did not need to be bleeding to infect her, although he could have been, we don't know.  This might be the reason why gay couples might have a higher rate of infection, since that tissue is prone to tears.


no need to panic, but sexual transmission has to be considered.

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Avatar universal
I agree with NY in wondering what is your husbands' disease condition? Has he had a recent biopsy? You do know that "normal" LFTs are not a perfect measure of how well he is doing nor do they indicate his level of liver damage or lack thereof..when was his last biopsy? The biopsy is the only true measure of his liver condition how you feel or lack of symptoms has NOTHING to do with it. most often the symptoms show up when the damage is advanced so you dont want to wait on symmptoms. What "natural remedy" is he taking?
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the info and the link, I have seen that but I was told there has not been one reported case of HCV transmission that didnt involve both people and blood or that is attributed to ccontact with semen or vaginal fluids. Youre right the risk is remote but does exist to transmit sexually but after 20 years with the man I think she is probably ok. I just dont want to scare her and have her think his semen could contaminate her. Anyway we dont have enough info about him and his disease condition, VL, etc. viral concentration in blood serum has some impact on the subject too I would imagine.
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Avatar universal
My point may have gotten lost, but in certain medical conditions for men, blood may be mixed with semen and/or urine and therefore find its way into the vaginal canal. Usually, it's microscopic but not always.
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Avatar universal
you are right, but 20 yrs ago she, and some of us, we were spring chickens, with tight, moist and easy to lubricate status. now, things have changed, the thinning of the vaginal canal, like she stated, might make it more susceptible to tears and maybe the virus.  If no condom is used, at least products like Replens (which is effective for 3 days) or Vagifem, which restores the hormonal benefit to the canal, can be used regularly.
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Avatar universal
the post was for you, just in case...
stay well
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Avatar universal
Just curious you say he's had it for 20 years but you haven't contracted it.

HAVE you been tested or are you just going by things like LFTs and other things that are not conclusive?

I'd advise for peace of mind you might have a test now and in six months.  I mean - there is just no other way to know in this world. Regardless of sexual contact.
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Avatar universal
Thanks you guys, Im a bit slow on the uptake today I appreciate you spelling it out for me. Ah, another joy of aging thinning skin! Jm didnt know that but then again a lot gets past me even not on tx!

Hope you both are having a good day TGIF
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Avatar universal
why are you not making your husband use a condom? it may have been 20 yrs but it only takes that one time. i hated to use a condom and never did until i found out i had HCV. now i would never think of having sex with my wife without one.
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Avatar universal
Liver is perfect; he had biopsy. viral load very low.  He takes Gods Remedy.  I have had several blood tests and always neg.  I guess I was just a little concerned because of the light blood spot after....I will just need to take a test in a couple months.....We discussed it and the use of protection for the future. I am going to keep my positive outlook and wait to see.  Thanks so much for all the input.  God bless. Cat
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