Hi all...Hiv and Hep

[penny 23]

Can someone tell me if antibodies to HIV and Hepatitis C both take the same time to appear on a test?  I am confused about this, and new here. Someones help?  I tested at 2 months after a vaginal sexual exposure for Hep A,B, and C. All were negative.   Am I free of Hep??

[regularjoey]

Hep B is the only one of these that is transmitted via vaginal sex

[farfromperfect]

Is it true that the body often defeats Hep b?  I have heard that it is pretty common for the immune system to kick the s*it out of it and get it out of your body?  Anyone know?

[regularjoey]

Yes, Hep B infections are sometimes cleared by the immune system, like most viral infections are.
But sometimes it's not and people get chronic hepatitis, which is nasty.
There are Hep B vaccines available, so everyone should get them if they haven't yet.

[penny 23]

So, can I rely on my negative HEP C results?  I had neg. HIV test at 4 months after exposure....is there any way that my HIV results were delayed if possible HCV was not detected by 2 months after exposure?  

I am: white female, non-IV drug user.  I had unprotected vaginal for 15 min.  No noticable bleeding or other STDs.  Thanks

[regularjoey]

You definitely don't have either HIV or HCV.
HCV is not believed to be sexually transmitted in the first place.
I believe a test for HepB at months is quite reliable too, but I can't say exact numbers.
I don't think you got HepB either.
Why are you worried about all this, if you don't mind me asking?

[penny 23]

I honestly think it is brought on by guilt.  I am usually okay when I am alone and don't think about HIV as much as when I am with my boyfriend.  I am always looking at him seeing if he has any ARS symptoms, and pick out every spot or pimple on him, hoping it has nothing to do with HIV. then I go look up HIV symptoms and it freaks me out.  Right now he has poison ivy or something on his leg and I keep thinking it is a rash from HIV, thinking I had it and gave it to him, even though I tested for everything and it was neg.  Its the window period that kills me, still after I was tested at 4 months after.  I don't know...it's horrible.  Cheating has definately taught me a lesson, and this whole situation has changed my life dramatically.

Can you reliably say I am in the clear or HIV or any Hep?  I just can't get it out of my head.

[Teak]

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic244.htm

HCV can be transmitted sexually.

Incubation period of HAV is 2-7 weeks, with an average of 28 days
Incubation period for HBV varies from 30-180 days, with the average approximately 75 days
Incubation period for HCV runs 15-150 days
Incubation period of HDV is approximately 35 days (must be infected with HBV)Incubation period of HEV is 2-9 weeks with an average of 45 days

[penny 23]

For HCV to be sexually transmitted does blood have to get into an open sore or cut?  

[Teak]

Yes, you can disreguard HIV at 4 months negative and yes you would need to have blood exchanged in HCV.

[regularjoey]

No disrespect to Teak, but you are making a mistake asking him these questions.
You won't get the answers you like, and most importantly, they will be incorrect.
Do yourself a favor, browse Dr.H.'s forum for the answers.
That's my last comment to you.

[penny 23]

Also, Disregarding HCV, can I rely on my negative 4 month HIV test?

[regularjoey]

So guilt it is.
You are definitely HIV and HepC negative.
And most likely HepB as well.

What I would do if I was you:
Ask your doctor if you had a HepB vaccine.
If "yes" then forget about HepB altogether.
If "no" then make sure you get it done.

Regarding comment from Teak above: Hep C is not believed to be sexually transmitted.
If you don't believe me (you shouldn't), search the doctor's forum for answers on Hep C.
People that claim to have gotten Hep C sexually are usually covering up their illegal IV drug usage.
So no way you got Hep C, in my opinion.

And also forget about HepA and the rest of them - no chance.
Teak scares people sometimes, maybe unwillingly, but sometimes I don't know.

[Teak]

You should update yourself if you don't think HCV can be sexually transmitted. I've given you one of the website for you to verify.

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh4-HepC.aspx

So HCV can be transmitted sexually.

[Teak]

I hope it is your last comment if you can't give these people all the facts.

[regularjoey]

It's the CYA-type stuff, many STD experts don't believe it.  Dr.H. doesn't, for one.  Neither does Dr.K. (SF Clinic)

You know, there a million links like that saying that receiving oral sex is risky for HIV.
You dismiss them, right?

My point is, there is no good data that Hep C is transmitted sexually.
So why spread this false info?  You really should not be scaring people for no reason, that's just wrong.

[Teak]

I just give them the facts and where they can find the information. I have a sister in law that had HCV and she was not a drug user, nor did she have a blood transfusion. So before you go dismissing, have something to back yourself up.

[Teak]

A and B  both are very common. HCV is on the rise.  But there are vaccines that if you are tested for an STD clinic you'll be asked to take them for A and B.

[nerviouskid]

how common is the transmission of Hep B is in gay men?  anyone know?

[nerviouskid]

oh okay....never knew HepA ever posed much of a risk.  That's interesting.  Thanks for answering.

[regularjoey]

I think  Hep A is just oroanal (A2M) type exposure...

[regularjoey]

I think this answers most questions on transmission and testing.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/STD/messages/3943.html

In general, hepatitis C transmission requires direct blood exposure. It is not an STD, so I don't keep up on the details. But if you haven't shared injection equipment with an infected person and if you're not a health care worker subject to injuries with sharp instruments, you need not worry about it. Hepatitis B is more easily transmitted and includes sex as a common route. Most infected people (with either virus) have no symptoms; the only way to be certain you aren't infected is to have blood tests at least 6-8 weeks after the last possible exposure.

[regularjoey]

That does not mean your sister got it sexually, you realize that?
You can be exposed to blood without IV drugs or transfusions - razor blades, toothbrushes etc

[nerviouskid]

yeah that's true. But I figured just like any oral encounter, it shouldn't be such a big threat.  This makes me assume that HepA rests somewhere unusal in the mouth.

Man....I had one freakin shot of HepB vaccine. I hope that helps something.  argh.   I HATE SEX....argh

[regularjoey]

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/STD/messages/2665.html

Some people assumed sexual transmission because the prevlanece of HCV infection is higher in people married to HCV infected people than in the general population. But people who live together months and years in succession have lots of opportunty for blood sharing, in addition to sexual exposure to one another. HCV is no higher in the casual sex partners of infected people than in the general population, the virus is not present in large amounts in sexual secretions, and no research has ever documented that sex per se is a mechanism of transmission. So although sexual transmission may occur from time to time, it is not a dominant mode of transmission; and if sex didn't exist, the overall frequency of HCV infection would be no different than it is now.


Isn't Dr. H good?  Boy, is he good.