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Dating someone with Hep C
Please forgive me for sounding stupid but I have met someone with Hep C. This is going to get serious. From what I read, I cannot get it from kissing or from unprotected vaginal sex. However, I am in animal rescue & he will be too. That means I get bit & scratched a bit, meaning I'm always bleeding, & so will he. Can this be transmitted through blood contact like this. He has had a "sustained response" for 2 years, meaning that his levels of active Hep c are very low. Thank you for your help.
Sarah: He has had a "sustained response" for 2 years, meaning that his levels of active Hep c are very low
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First, sounds like you need to find out his actual HCV status, and I'm assuming your husband has been treated for HCV.
If he is SVR (sustained viral response, also known as being cured) then his viral levels should be zero (undetectible) and not "very low". If his viral levels are actually very low (meaning still detectible) then he still has the virus and he is not SVR, i.e. cured.
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First, sounds like you need to find out his actual HCV status, and I'm assuming your husband has been treated for HCV.
If he is SVR (sustained viral response, also known as being cured) then his viral levels should be zero (undetectible) and not "very low". If his viral levels are actually very low (meaning still detectible) then he still has the virus and he is not SVR, i.e. cured.
My husband has HCV. We only found out last year. We are in the remodeling/building business together and have for 9 years been cut, scratched, etc., and had unprotected sex. I was tested last year and do not have HCV.
I'm telling you the above to let you know it's apparently not very easy to get HCV from someone in everyday life. But do be careful. It's easy to be careful and to pay attention.
I'm telling you the above to let you know it's apparently not very easy to get HCV from someone in everyday life. But do be careful. It's easy to be careful and to pay attention.
Sustained Virologic Response means that he has the HCV ANTIBODIES - but it's not active... Technically what is considered cured.
It means that he technically is not contagious - confirmed by Dr. Deitrich here on our medical help forum.
About blood and scratches:
Use universal precautions - treat everyone like they have a contagious disease and that you yourself have a contagious disease. Bandage everything, wash carefully - kill germs and diseases and viruses by using products that contain bleach - or alcohol. They make specific products in animal care magazines - and in human health magazines or you could look online.
HCV is a bloodborne pathogen --- like many other diseases --- if he has HepC --- and has been UNDETECTABLE then you should be fairly confident that you will not be catching this disease from him.
About sex --- unless you're sharing blood during the act of sex, you should be safe.
If his viral levels are detectable then blood to blood contact is possible to create contagion.
So you need to determine if he has READABLE VIRAL LEVELS or NOT.
Your risk - if you are HCV yourself --- of passing on to a child that you birth is less than 5% by most people's understanding.
Get serious with him - love him...
But learn about HCV --- and learn about what he's been through and what he may be going through.
Treatment or the disease itself can be very difficult on a person.
Much luck to your new relationship!
Meki
It means that he technically is not contagious - confirmed by Dr. Deitrich here on our medical help forum.
About blood and scratches:
Use universal precautions - treat everyone like they have a contagious disease and that you yourself have a contagious disease. Bandage everything, wash carefully - kill germs and diseases and viruses by using products that contain bleach - or alcohol. They make specific products in animal care magazines - and in human health magazines or you could look online.
HCV is a bloodborne pathogen --- like many other diseases --- if he has HepC --- and has been UNDETECTABLE then you should be fairly confident that you will not be catching this disease from him.
About sex --- unless you're sharing blood during the act of sex, you should be safe.
If his viral levels are detectable then blood to blood contact is possible to create contagion.
So you need to determine if he has READABLE VIRAL LEVELS or NOT.
Your risk - if you are HCV yourself --- of passing on to a child that you birth is less than 5% by most people's understanding.
Get serious with him - love him...
But learn about HCV --- and learn about what he's been through and what he may be going through.
Treatment or the disease itself can be very difficult on a person.
Much luck to your new relationship!
Meki
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