hep c transmission

Hello guys,

Thanks for taking time to review my question which deals with HCV and sexual transmission.  My roomate's girlfried just tested positive for HCV antibodies.  His antibody tests were negative.  He is still worried because he thinks that he may have given her the disease and his antibodies haven't showed up yet.  He took his tests 2 months after a possible exposure where he broke a condom while having sex with another girl.  His girlfriend tried to give blood and was notified that she had the antibodies. Her doctor told her that he should get tested and he did. We have both researched the topic and everything we've read says that sexual transmission is likely but not very common.  What do you think his chances are of getting it sexually and then passing it on sexually?  He says that once the condom broke he got up and put on a new one.  He also says that blood was not present then or when he was with his girlfriend.  Sorry for writing a book but my roomate is a wreck.  He has dropped out of all of his classes this semester because he can't concentrate on anything.  I want my old friend back. Also what are the chances that she could have received a false positive given she does not fall into any of the other risk categories?

[GreatBird]

I've been married for 22 years and my husband doesn't have HCV even though I have had it all this time. And, yes. We have been having sex.;) We even have two kids and they don't have it either.

[RiverGal]

I've had hep c for 25 years (give or take).  My fella for most of that time is clean...tested negative.  Not knowing I had the disease, we have shared razors, toothbrushes, and everything else which is higher risk than sex...still, he is clean.

Hope that helps with a little piece of mind.  Tell your friend no worries...hep isn't a death sentence.

~River

[Soleus]

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2004/062104_c.html

Here is a more recent study that says it's not very likely.

[Tony-z]

kindaworried,

Like the others that have posted, I have had this Virus for over 25 years, I found out that I had HCV in 1989.
My wife of 12 years and partner for 3 before that, gets tested every 3 years, and is negative for the Virus almost 15 years later.
Before meeting my wife 15 years ago, I was active sexually. I contacted my partners to warn them and make sure they got tested, none tested positive for the HCV Virus at that time.
Remember HCV is transmitted by Blood to Blood contact. Semen which should have no blood in it, doesn't carry the virus.

    I hope that this help ease you and your roommates minds.


                    God Bless

                     TonyZ


You asked for a what are his chances I would say 1-5%

[layla]

If you have antibodies it doesn't mean you have HCV just the antibodies. Antibodies would be present if you got HCV and your body got rid of it on it's own. That does not mean you have HCV. For instance if you got a hepatitis a or b vacine you would then have the antibodies NOT the disease which seems to be the case here. It doesn't seem as if you have anything to be going crazy over or should I say you roommater or his girlfriend. They should rest easy. LL

[couchpotato]

On the other hand..... my husband and I have been together 25 years and both have/had hep c. (I have just completed tx and am undectable). Although we both dabbled in intervenous drugs in our youth, we never did drugs together and both ended up with genotype 2. He is awaiting liver transplant and I am basically healthy. I believe this virus and the chances of catching it from your partner is a crapshoot, so just be aware of the transmission sources, but don't let it totally consume your life.

Mattie

[layla]

Isn't it true if they have antibodies it does not mean they have HCV? In fact they have not tested positive for HCV at all and so do not have HCV? LL

[Amerabrit]

My understanding is that if blood tests positive for antibodies then the host was exposed to HCV.  If PCR test is negative then host cleared HCV with it's own antibodies but will always test positive for HCV antibodies in subsequent blood tests.  I have a friend who tested positive for antibodies but negative on PCR - his doctor went so far as to say that he is now immune to HCV?  Not sure that part is accurate????  Anyone else care to ad to this....?

[honey1616]

Yes that is correct,,,,we will always have hep c antibodies for rest of our lives.  Only way to know,,,,no virus or cleared is the viral test.

[Amerabrit]

You sound a lot worried actually...   Since blood was not present, the risk of picking up or passing on an infection is very low...  I was diagnosed in August of 2003 and believe my infection was in the acute phase at that time.  (recent infection) My husband tested negative.  
Best of luck to you and your friends.