sexual partners

[hcvpositive]

I was diagnosed HCV positive 5 months ago.  I have been celebate since that time but am considering sexual contact with a partner.  My doctor told me that even open mouthed kissing could transmit HEP C.  How easily can a woman pass HCV to a man?  If I have no open wounds and no bleeding, what are the chances of passing HCV to a sexual partner either through intercourse or kissing?  I'm feeling pretty hopeless about the possibility of ever having a partner again and the fact that my doctor said that I could pass the virus by kissing really has me depressed.  If this is true, then couldn't the virus be passed by allowing someone to drink from the same glass, or eat from my plate?

[bohep]

is this site still running

[jmjm530]

Everyone has there own way of dealing with the sex disclosure situation.

But one way is not to tell any casual sexual partner you have hep c as long as you practice safe sex. You might decide to tell someone you are serious about before you have intercourse, but only because a late disclosure might come back to haunt the relationship.

Bottom line is the chance of HCV transmission with safe sex (if it exists at all) is so low that there are no medical guidelines I know of that even suggest condoms in monogamous relationships.

As far as this kissing thing, the speculative article posted is not supported by any studies and I've never heard a liver specialist warn his hep c patients against kissing.

So please, stop worrying about what doesn't exist and go live your life in as normal a manner as possible. BTW the few sexual partners I disclosed my hep c status to, weren't concerned in the least. I've also heard this from other people as well. Especially heard this from women who disclosed to men. Truth is, we men will risk life and limb to get a little. And I'm only half kidding. LOL.

That said, if you still want to post your specs. LOL.

-- Jim

[Study Patient]

Maybe he is a little out of line- I don't know,but atleast HCVpositive has gotten some reassurance that the opportunity for intimacy is still there. Hope exists. Not everyone is so close minded as to refuse a relationship with someone because they have a disease. Lets be open minded.

[can-do-man]

Maybe one of you guys or somebody else thats finished tx. could help out shadyoak down below.

Q: Monday Threads - nygirl 01/09/2006

Didn't want this to get buried so i reposted it.

[cougareyes]

I've had 3 relationships over 5 years in duration, 2 of them are negative; the other I don't know: lost touch a long time ago. I found out while I'm with my present girlfriend. You have to let things evolve some before you you tell anyone. There is no sense in telling everyone you date, you'll probably practice safely until you're ready to get more serious.
I have a very hard time believing kissing could be a risk at all. I Hope you realize that HCV is only a bump in your life, you will be able to still live you life to fullest.   Peace

[Forseegood]

I for one feel that you are really out of line speaking like this to a newcomer with a valid question...I hope the forum managers see this last post and deal with all your incarnations of that's the case....

[hcvpositive]

I just know that I do not want to be celibate forever!  I also do not want the world to know I tested positive either.  It could really put a damper on a relationship in the early stages.  I got some hopeful information here today.  I'm still really afraid to be intimate with anyone.  The thought of never being able to be intimate or even be kissed again is a very desolate and lonely feeling.

[cougareyes]

I just think the whole thing about monogamous sex is that is the only way they can keep a control group. Once they get a couple where one is pos. and one is neg. and rule out all the risk factors. Then conclude the only thing these two risk together is sex. Otherwise they can't really determine how a person may catch it, and I guess a more promiscuest(?)person may take a little more risk. I know I did. Peace

[can-do-man]

Maybe one of you guys or somebody else thats finished tx. could help out shadyoak down below.

Q: Monday Threads - nygirl 01/09/2006

[honey11]

LOL Well,,,that was short and sweet!

[honey11]

LOL Cquest and Beamish!

Can you get this monster from kissing? Probably no but,,,,if both partners had gum disease,,,both bleeding,,,,yep that could definitely be possible.  I would be careful being woman during menstrual cycles,,,,again very low percent but if the man had a cut,,,that could be a set up for disaster!

[beamishboy]

Saran Wrap is most definately rough sex--you brute...as for 10 partners,if all on one bed,somebody ain't getting any: pillow or covers,and that can be kinda ,semi, rough....

[cquest]

See? I told you my memory stinks! I can't remember who started this thread to reply to them...I should take notes...

Alergic to latex? He's quick...got saran wrap?

More than 10 partners makes you into rough sex? I wonder who made that rule up? Somebody that ain't gettin' any probably...

Get HCV from kissing? Probably friends with the 10 partner rule guy...

Cin

[NYgirl]

LOL ain't that the truth Jim!

You really need to go to the Janis website and LEARN for yourself how far out of line the info you've gotten is.  The way you get POWER over this disease is by KNOWING about it!

Most of the public is COMPLETELY ignorant about it. You have to read and put a bit of time in and learn what is what here.

I not only is this not AIDS but you can't get aids from kissing either can you.

You need to find out what genotype and what your viral load is to start.  If you DID get this so recently you probably don't need to treat but the ONLY way you can be SURE is to have a biopsy which is quick and painless. THEN you will see for SURE what is up with your liver.  Then if you decide you CAN indeed wait...in a few years you redo it and see if there has been any progression in your liver disease.

Viral load is no indicator of what is going on inside of your liver at all.  I had a VERY LOW viral load BUT my liver is half shot.  If I took the viral load number I would not have treated and that would have been a HUGE mistake for me.

It sounds like you need a doctor who will take the time to sit down with you and answer your questions. Write them down. Ask the Nurse Practitioner or something but make sure you are going to someone who KNOWS about HepC.  A heptologist or a Gastroenteroloist at least.

Then you can have peace of mind.

None of us in here are doctors and we only had "advice" to give.

But it truly seems you need a crash course ASAP. Stop listening to your friends.

ANY questions you have you can throw out in here. I've learned SO VERY MUCH from these guys in here and while we are not doctors we all (almost) will help and support you all we can.

But remember opinions are one's own thought and not everyone in here will agree on everything.

BEST of luck to you.

Keep talking and asking questions from people WHO ARE EDUCATED in this.  Your friends are uh whacked.

[GoofyDad]

Hey, why feel like a leper, when you could be feeling goofy instead?

"That's what all we guys say.."
LOL, Jim. Yup. It's latex and laundry soap for me.....

[jmjm530]

HCV postive said: The person that I want to be intimate with is allergic to latex and cannot use condoms.
------------------------------------------------------

That's what all we guys say. LOL. Have him try some non-latex condoms. http://www.ripnroll.com/Poly-Rips.htm

[hcvpositive]

My doc said the viral load was very low.  At the time, I said "what's a viral load"?  I don't know the count but she said that the specialist did not feel that the count was high enough to warrant treatment.  I'm going to the doctor next month and am asking for a referral anyway.  These HMOs don't care anything about the patient.  It's all about what they can gouge my insurance for in return for no service.  The person that I want to be intimate with is allergic to latex and cannot use condoms.  He also tested negative for all STD's and HIV last month.  I really don't want to tell him about any of this (although I realize that from a morals standpoint, I should).  We have seen each other off and on for more than 2 years and have never had sexual contact.  I have a feeling that our next date will be going to 4th base.  I may have already scared him off by asking him to bring condoms when he comes over next week.  That is how I found out that he is allergic.  This guy isn't Mr. Right.  He's Mr. Right now, but I still care enough about him that I would never want him hurt by my actions.

[dyce]

Welcome.My friend it sounds like your doc is talking about hepatitis b,but being a doc.he should knowthe difference.With hep.b you can infect others thru.body fluid.As stated above hcv is thru blood to blood contact.I caught hcv in the mid 80's and didn't find out I had it til after I was married.My wife has been tested 4 times,neg. each time along with my 2 daughters.The persentage is very low for sexual trasmission.

Dyce

[cuteus]

LOL! that is the spirit! you are on your way to power!

[hcvpositive]

Thank you all so much for the advice.  I have been searching for reputable sites to gain awareness.  Maybe I will give my quack doctor the website info so she doesn't scare the **** out of her future patients!

[cuteus]

please go to reputable sites on hcv, and stop asking your friends about it unless they are knowledgeable on HCV, which by your friend's comments, she is not and  sounds very ignorant.
Read janis7hepc.com and hcvadvocate.org(Ithink) to enhance your knowledge of hcv from reputable sources. Most people have no idea what hep c is, until they are personally touched by it, then they learn real quick.

[hcvpositive]

I had multiple partners in the 70's.  I have had several relationships since that time but they were also monogomous in their duration, which usually averaged a year or more.  I was in a relationship with a guy for more than a year and I was monogomous.  I had reason to believe however, that he was NOT and I ended the relationship in May 05.  I tested for all STD's (incl HIV) in December 04 and tested negative.  It was in August 05 that my HCV was positive and my doctor said that because there was no evidence of HCV antibodies in my December 04 testing, that I must have contracted it at some time between January through August 05.  I was told it was a very low viral load after the second round of tests.  This doctor is a regular family practitioner at an HMO in southern california.  I felt like her response to me with the open mouthed kissing question was primitive.  If you can pass or contract HCV by kissing, by gosh, EVERYONE would have it, wouldn't they?  A friend of mine told me last night that HCV is a strain of AIDS.  Now I really feel plagued!

[NYgirl]

Nah it wasn't HIS opinion and he thought it was a bunch of BS he said that is what the medical community view is.  I guess if anyone of us are real sluts we are able to do some pretty AMAZING sexual things that the rest of the world is not able to do.  

I figured it was a huge compliment on my abilities and sort of wondered if I was in the wrong career?

;-)

(I guess what they figure (after I thought about it) is that people who are that "promiscuous" do some wilder stuff or something.  I sure didn't get it and neither did he).

Sounds like anyone who supports that opinion needs a good version of a Dr. Ruth book to me.  :)

[Forseegood]

wow, I don't understand the correlation either, more then 10 partners and it's considered "rough sex"? What if you only had 2 partners but they were Andre the Giant and his Sex mutant cousin? That sounds like some kind of judgement call on his part, in terms of amount of partners. I'm sure he's a good doctor though...with this one questionable belief. This is an interesting topic though. Like I said before, I've been to many hep c support groups and there were many married and live in couples (for many years) there, with one person infected and the other not. Although of course you should use precaution, I think it's more a blood borne disease. Just my take. Hope youre feeling better and the weather is nice for you.