Hi,
I have a girlfriend who discovered that she has hepatitis C, the infection occurred probably very long ago due to blood transfusion. Viral load is very low (less than 100,000), no liver symptoms at all for her and currently she was advised there is no need for treatment and just continue to be monitored. I'm Hepatitis C negative and we are still using condoms in all sexual contacts.
The other day we had sex after we thought her menstruation was over, but some blood was on the condom and I thought a small portion touched some of the skin on the penis (the part closer to the body, it was probably not covered well enough by the condom). I washed that area as soon as possible with warm water and soap and there is no sign of any cut or broken skin on that part or any place near. Still my question is what are the odds of getting infected this way? I'm reading very conflicting information on the net and would appreciate professional info on this. The articles I read that made me most confused are the articles warning not to touch infected blood. Is that just extra precaution or is there really a chance for blood-to-skin infection? Would the chance change if there had been a rash, mosquito bite or anything similar on the skin (if either or both of us have a rash or mosquito bite)?
Further to that, I would like to understand the risk I'm taking. I read a lot of information, the infection chance seems rather low, at least based on what I read, but the result of infection is particularly severe. We are a new couple and truth be told I'm a bit wary of going into something which is beyond what I can handle and don't want to disappoint both of us at the end. I mean even if there is a 2% chance of getting infected if we decide to go with condoms and 5% chance of the possible future child getting infected, once infection occurs the result could be literary deadly.
Awaiting your advise.