sex hvc

i had a risky sexuall behavior i just got tested for hvc what are my chances i might have it.

[R Glass]

Slim to none

[copyman]

depends what kind of sex. agree with the other poster it is very rare.
The odds do go with rough anal sex and even higher if gay anal sex. even then it is still not all that common to get it that way. good luck with your test results

[Joey_M]

Glad the message is getting out there on the sexual risks but to be more precise here, unprotected anal sex carries more risk than other types of sex - gay or straight - it doesn't matter. If one partner has HIV, that increases the risk of sexual transmission even more.

If you are referring to unprotected vaginal sex, odds for HepC transmission seem to be fairly low although not zero. But you put yourself and others at rish for HIV and other sexually transmitted disease so get checked for everything and start using condoms 100% of the time until you are in a monogamous relationship and you both are certain of what each other has. Oh, and have a great holiday!

[gl43]

what if she was at her end of her period?

[Joey_M]

Did she bleed into an open sore on you? Did you share a needle during sex? You should get yourself tested for a full STD / HIV screen.

[gl43]

I SAW NO BLOOD IT WAS THE END OF HER PERIOD, NIETHER DO I HAVE OPEN SORE. I GOT TEDTED FULL STD (EXCEPT FOR HVC) PANEL 2 WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT EVERY THING WAS NEG. I WAITED 3 MONTH WHICH WAS YESTERDAY FOR THE 3 MONTH WINDOW PERIOD, I TOOK THE HIV TEST AND IT WAS NEG BUT FOR THE HVC I HAVE TO WAIT 2 WEEKS AND IM FREAKING OUT, IM A PARAMEDIC SO I NO THE BODY REALLY WELL SO  SELF DIAGNOSISAND I NO THAT REALLY BAD.

[Joey_M]

I think your risk is very low on HCV = especially if all your other STD tests were negative after 2 weeks. My last round of HCV tests took almost 2 weeks to get back - I don't think the HIV test would hold up the Hep C test. Hopefully you can put your mind at ease until the labs come in.

[GSDgirl]

I honestly think you should wear a rain coat.

A paramedic should know the route of transmission and if they don't,, they should get educated.

Good Luck!!

Denise

[gl43]

i no routes of exposure, although std are not our specialty, we get taught routes of administration of drug do to the halflife of certain meds, and there absorption times. i like to talk to ppl and find out info and put into account different opinion, i give advise to ppl all the time but  in certain situation you are blind. and want info.

[mikesimon]

If legitimate this thread is pretty scary. Paramedic?
Mike

[Marcia2202]

And by the way.... It's HCV and not HVC.

[Willy50]

Let me complain first.  ; )
Don't write IN ALL CAPS!!!!!
Write in complete sentences.  Don't abrevia8 if U want 2B understood.

You don't have the time to capitalize "i" or write the word "know" instead of "no"?  

I H8 reading posts in txt code.  : (     LOL!!!   JK!!!

This isn't twitter; you'll get bonus points from people who take the time to try to read your post who don't have to decipher your script.  Thanks!!
-------------------
If you are a paramedic you probably know that you cannot get infected unless the woman you had sex with is infected.  Is there some reason that you suspect that she was?  You might also ask yourself; is she any less at risk from having had sex with you?

Statistically, a significant percentage of menopausal women are either having their period or just finished one.  Without regard to that fact, the HCV sexual transmission rate for conventional hetersexual sex is quite low.  In the absence of HIV or other open sores, such as herpes it may be in the 1% range, but probably far, far lower.  Monogamous hetersexual couples have about a 2-3% infection rate after about 20 years, but understand that even this does not prove sexual transmission. (it could mean having had shared razors or some other route such as through cuts or injuries).

You probably have a greater risk of contacting HCV while working since you may routinely get exposed to blood during trauma.  About 5% of Americans have HCV, a higher percentage of us are from the Viet Nam war era.

Best of luck.  I doubt that you have it, at least from the sexual tryst.  I also suggest that you become more aware of sexual transmission modes if you continue to have unprotected sex.  HCV is seldom transmitted sexually, without trauma except in the presence of other factors; HIV, open sores/lesions/warts, anal sex or other factors which would lead to abrasion or tearing.  
A PCR should answer your questions definitively.

Willy

[Willy50]

Probably you were given an elisa (antibody test) test.  If reactive (if there are antibodies) you may either be given a more sensitive accurate test a (riba) or a test ( a PCR) which tests for the actual presence of HCV in the blood.  It is possible to have antibodies from a past exposure but to NOT be infected if the body was able to clear the infection on its own.  You didn't say which test you were given but I assume it was an antibody test.

Willy

[Jakied]

Sexual transmission is rare.  When it does occur, it is almost always male to female.

Simple anatomy.  The 'receiving' person is always at more risk.

[mikesimon]

What about male to male?
That is the riskiest sexual behavior vis a vis HCV, I believe.
Mike

[medicmommy]

From one paramedic to another...I, unfortunately, am up-close-and-personal with Hep C and it's experience. I got mine from a dirty needle stick, didn't know it for 5 years, and found out I was positive when I had a routine blood test done which initially showed elevated liver enzymes (which lead to further testing) and explained why I was so tired all of the time. (It turns out it wasn't from doing too many 24 hour shifts!)

So, some advice...#1. Stop freaking out. We are taught Hep C is something to be feared and if you get it you die. Not so much anymore. That information is old and was formed to get us to wear gloves when starting IVs. As you know, Hep C is spread by blood-to-blood contact which means, the infected blood has to find an opening in your skin. Period. It seems to prefer fresh open areas (like a needle stick or a tattoo) that have open capillaries on the surface. Mucous membranes (like eyes and mouth/ gums) cannot be ruled out as susceptible areas (e.g. if contaminated blood gets in your eye or mouth, or up your nose -Hey, s**t happens). You have more of a chance of getting HCV from getting hit in the face with a bloody fist than you do having regular sex -even if she was at the end of her period unless you have open groin/ penile sores.

#2 Do you recall getting a bad case of "flu" (a gut bug variety) 7-14 days after your activity? Most people (all?) have an initial acute infection which varies from feeling like they are catching a bug to being completely flattened. Most recover and do not show visible jaundice. This is why HCV is so sneaky -because to most, it initially feels like a seasonal bug that they stay home and suffer through and they only discover they have it by accident or when the silent liver damage it causes begins giving symptoms.

#3 Hep C is a disease of DECADES meaning, unless you have something that accelerates it (like drugs or alcoholism or tylenol abuse) the liver inflammation it causes slowly forms scarring over a period of years. Many people who are healthy have livers that repair the damage as fast as it is created and do not progress to advanced scarring. These folks usually die of something else before they die of Hep C.
#4. Okay, I'm not your mother, but you SHOULD be more worried about other catchy things like HIV and Hep B (not to mention those kind of STD's that are cured by antibiotics!) What on Earth are you doing having unprotected sex with someone you aren't a permanent partner to? You know better than this and this is STUPID! Have you considered how your life would change if she were to get pregnant? Or if you were to get a disabling disease? Because of the immune-compromise that happens with HIV, you wouldn't be able to work in the health care field.
OR, say you did catch HCV ...How hard would you have to fight to convince your company you didn't participate in outside-of-work risky behaviors and could have possibly caught it at work? (Do you have a tattoo? Talk about your sexual exploits to others? Ever do drugs -even once in high school?) Did you know that L&I pays out only 60% of your wages and the shortest treatment (which is chemotherapy by-the-way) for Hep C is 6 months (with up to 3 months recovery time). Did you also know that FMLA medical leave is only good for 3 months, and after that it will probably be up to you to pay for your entire medical insurance amount (for most people that is around $1200/mo) (unless you have a contract agreement that states otherwise)? Not to mention, what would you do for funds if you weren't covered by L&I and you were too sick to work during treatment? You could try for temporary disability, but that takes a minimum of 3 months to get going, and it only offers very crummy medical care. When I went through treatment, the meds alone cost $1200/month. This didn't include the bajillion Dr visits or lab tests or the specialist fees when the treatment freaked out my thyroid and caused a thyroid storm....(I'm happy to say, it has been 15 months, and the Hep C is still undetectable...)

Yea, you should freak. Not because of the Hep C, but because of your irresponsible actions and/or ignorance that have potential to destroy your health, your career, and to make you a burden on society...Feel better? ~MM

[nygirl7]

1. Chance = almost zero.
2. Be worried about HIV and STDs before HCV
3. Wear the raincoat it can save your life
4. Don't make the mistake again

[medicmommy]

Okay, I'm off my soap box...But, "cover your stump before you hump" next time, okay? Your life takes an abrupt 90' turn if you get this bugger and the treatment isn't always successful...(((((((HUGZ)))))))~MM

[Jakied]

If you have 'male to male' sex, the receiver has a much higher risk.

[mikesimon]

Yeah, I know - no argument there.
I wasn't addressing that issue.
Mike

[jusjames]

not true (wth hep c)
unless you happen to be ejaculating blood!!!!!!!!!! its blood to blood , both would be at equal risk, if you had a cut on penis and in side the anus the virus could go either way!

with HIV
the reciever is at more risk