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Anyone passed HepC through sex?
Hi,
there seems to be some debate about people passing HepC through sex. I've read some medical reports, and I know there's a theoretical risk, but can anyone tell their real-life experiences?
Has anyone passed HepC to a partner from sex, or are there any couples on the forum who have had sex for years without passing it on? Do couples on here use condoms?
Thanks in advance,
Pete.
there seems to be some debate about people passing HepC through sex. I've read some medical reports, and I know there's a theoretical risk, but can anyone tell their real-life experiences?
Has anyone passed HepC to a partner from sex, or are there any couples on the forum who have had sex for years without passing it on? Do couples on here use condoms?
Thanks in advance,
Pete.
No problemo and apologies offered if needed. I was only DX'ed about 4 years ago and it is still fresh enough in my mind.
There is one more thing unstated in this thread..... and that is that us infected types have some investments....we have attachments. We as infected people are not always 100% objective or unemotional about our infection. It's something we strive for but it may be unattainable.
I hope that this thread explains that interface with us as well as your original questions. No issue from me on your questions. Every time I am told something I always counter with an alternative proposition which further tests the hypothesis.
I'd also encourage you to make use of the board search engine and you will find comparable questions and answers which will easily and quickly round out your general knowledge.
best,
Willy
There is one more thing unstated in this thread..... and that is that us infected types have some investments....we have attachments. We as infected people are not always 100% objective or unemotional about our infection. It's something we strive for but it may be unattainable.
I hope that this thread explains that interface with us as well as your original questions. No issue from me on your questions. Every time I am told something I always counter with an alternative proposition which further tests the hypothesis.
I'd also encourage you to make use of the board search engine and you will find comparable questions and answers which will easily and quickly round out your general knowledge.
best,
Willy
Hi Willy,
cheers for that. I understand that a lot of these questions may have been asked before. But, in my defense, I'm new here, and have potentially been exposed. I'm trying to evaluate the risk I've exposed myself to.
Mremeet, yes, perhaps I am obsessing. If I am, it's not doing me too many favours either. I wish I could stop obsessing. If I'm honest, I'm quite scared. If our situations were reversed, I'd like to feel that I would pity you rather than scorn you. No, I haven't been perfect here, but I can't go back and change anything. If I could, I would. And yes, I've learned from my mistakes (which is what we all try to do).
Cheers,
Pete.
cheers for that. I understand that a lot of these questions may have been asked before. But, in my defense, I'm new here, and have potentially been exposed. I'm trying to evaluate the risk I've exposed myself to.
Mremeet, yes, perhaps I am obsessing. If I am, it's not doing me too many favours either. I wish I could stop obsessing. If I'm honest, I'm quite scared. If our situations were reversed, I'd like to feel that I would pity you rather than scorn you. No, I haven't been perfect here, but I can't go back and change anything. If I could, I would. And yes, I've learned from my mistakes (which is what we all try to do).
Cheers,
Pete.
I'll try again. I may owe Pete an apology if I come off as a tad brisk. We end up having to balance trying to answer people who are in pain or suffering from real fear from possible infection. The flip side is that having done it many times before we may become a bit terse if they keep asking. It's almost as if they are trying to convince themselves that they are infected in spite of the test results. I think that it is a VERY normal and forgivable feeling however. I can still remember how consumed with fear I was at diagnosis; not only for my prospects but for my kids.
What I was trying to convey is that there is a balance for Pete that he must find AND that there is a balance for ourselves in our comfort level with our disease that we must also find. I feel that part of our recovery and acceptance in living with this disease comes from finding a comfortable place in living with it. On one hand if I was in complete denial that I was infected and infectious that would be a maladjustment. On the extreme other end of the scale we can also find ourselves over compensating, being over fearful, and isolating ourselves. A too far extreme reaction to being infected is also a maladjustment. We have to find the "right size"....or develop an appropriate response to being infected or we will give up trying to kiss loved ones, breast feed our children ( I speaking as a group, not me specifically. : ) ) or engage in sex with loved ones we've disclosed to.
I remember a thread elsewhere called "Transmission by a Kiss" that got people very worked up. You see.... that things can apply in theory but really not have much weight in practice. If you end up engaging and living in the theoretical possibility you end up placing yourselves in a sort of mental lepper colony. I rather feel this may also apply to the "occult infection" topic as well. We need to find an appropriate sense of scale in respecting and fearing our disease.
I just feel that sometimes it is strenuous and even a little injurious to ourselves if we engage too much time banging on the drum saying we're "safe". Here's an anology. I have a firewall on my computer.....when I first got it I would sit and watch it. I was almost in terror that I was continually being assaulted by people trying to attack my castle. In time.....I have accepted that the firewall does it's job. Things come up but I no longer obsess about the safety and performance of it. We all need to get a sense of comfort that while not 100% non-infectious we are relatively so. We can go about our business with a very low level of fear. When circumstances come up we can and will deal with them.
My point (and perhaps to answer your question) was....that we already suffer from fear an prejudice enough....even from our doctors on occasion (shouldn't they know better?). My segue (in your quote of mine) was that the ultimate person we must persuade and make comfortable is ourselves. If we have some level of comfort with our situation we may even live longer. If we perpetually live in fear or self exhile and isolation in a sense we've already died.
There is an aspect of living in fear......and that may include being in long debates about occult infections, theoretical threats of infection that just are a tad debilitating and only serve to undermine our already fragile sense that we can have a life without being a threat.
It's one reason that I respond maybe too strenuously that we are not very infectuous. I don't want to allow myself to slip into feeling as if I am more so. I think to some extent even the conversations undermine our feelings or convictions about our status. It's possible to understand things intellectually after all and still have different feelings that run counter to the intellectual understanding.
I think in part you naturally went with the disclosure issue because at first you weren't aware of the initial thread and circumstances involved with this thread. There were several unpoken but understood issues that were being discussed that were'nt apparent to a first time reader.
I may quit there. : )
best,
willy
What I was trying to convey is that there is a balance for Pete that he must find AND that there is a balance for ourselves in our comfort level with our disease that we must also find. I feel that part of our recovery and acceptance in living with this disease comes from finding a comfortable place in living with it. On one hand if I was in complete denial that I was infected and infectious that would be a maladjustment. On the extreme other end of the scale we can also find ourselves over compensating, being over fearful, and isolating ourselves. A too far extreme reaction to being infected is also a maladjustment. We have to find the "right size"....or develop an appropriate response to being infected or we will give up trying to kiss loved ones, breast feed our children ( I speaking as a group, not me specifically. : ) ) or engage in sex with loved ones we've disclosed to.
I remember a thread elsewhere called "Transmission by a Kiss" that got people very worked up. You see.... that things can apply in theory but really not have much weight in practice. If you end up engaging and living in the theoretical possibility you end up placing yourselves in a sort of mental lepper colony. I rather feel this may also apply to the "occult infection" topic as well. We need to find an appropriate sense of scale in respecting and fearing our disease.
I just feel that sometimes it is strenuous and even a little injurious to ourselves if we engage too much time banging on the drum saying we're "safe". Here's an anology. I have a firewall on my computer.....when I first got it I would sit and watch it. I was almost in terror that I was continually being assaulted by people trying to attack my castle. In time.....I have accepted that the firewall does it's job. Things come up but I no longer obsess about the safety and performance of it. We all need to get a sense of comfort that while not 100% non-infectious we are relatively so. We can go about our business with a very low level of fear. When circumstances come up we can and will deal with them.
My point (and perhaps to answer your question) was....that we already suffer from fear an prejudice enough....even from our doctors on occasion (shouldn't they know better?). My segue (in your quote of mine) was that the ultimate person we must persuade and make comfortable is ourselves. If we have some level of comfort with our situation we may even live longer. If we perpetually live in fear or self exhile and isolation in a sense we've already died.
There is an aspect of living in fear......and that may include being in long debates about occult infections, theoretical threats of infection that just are a tad debilitating and only serve to undermine our already fragile sense that we can have a life without being a threat.
It's one reason that I respond maybe too strenuously that we are not very infectuous. I don't want to allow myself to slip into feeling as if I am more so. I think to some extent even the conversations undermine our feelings or convictions about our status. It's possible to understand things intellectually after all and still have different feelings that run counter to the intellectual understanding.
I think in part you naturally went with the disclosure issue because at first you weren't aware of the initial thread and circumstances involved with this thread. There were several unpoken but understood issues that were being discussed that were'nt apparent to a first time reader.
I may quit there. : )
best,
willy
Willy, my comment to both you and pete were based on what it "appeared" as *possibly* being discussed (in between the lines). Pete here has since clarified his position by simply stating that he had a brief exposure and he was worried about it. Fair enough, and he's certainly entitled to ask questions about it. But repeatedly asking questions about ongoing sexual relations with someone with hep C like: "What I was more interested in really was how people who have HepC and are in relationships behave..." just raises a little flag, especially after it's already been thoroughly and repeatedly explained to him what the sexual risks are. He stated he had a single exposure with a "pro" while wearing a condom more than 4 months ago (and has repeatedly tested negative since then). Unless pete is considering a relationship with this pro, I just don't get pressing the issue about what monogamous married couples do sexually and whether or not they get away with it. That's why I responded with my two-fold response which included the possibility he was rationalizing not telling someone he had it, OR he was worried about his own exposure risk. I wasn't flatly accusing him of putting someone else at risk without telling them. But, it sounds like pete is yet another "I've been such a bad bad boy"/sexual guilt/gee, I need to go to church now/hypochondriacal forum participant who doesn't have HCV and yet "worries" about it anyway (and undoubtably will continue to worry about it for months and perhaps years to come).
willyquote: "If you read my earlier post you'll see that I provide a range of transmission risk, so no, I don't think I'm minimising it to the point of saying don't tell people you have HCV. I would certainly tell a love interest....but I might not tell the guy who delivers me a pizza. : ) This thread is NOT about disclosure."
Ok it's not about disclosure. But again, after reading some of your initial response to pete, it certainly sounded that way when you said this: "I know people who have lost their jobs over revealing they had HCV. I know people who lost a relationship for disclosing. I know people who were no longer accepted as welcome. We struggle to overcome these perceptions; in society...... amoungst friends and lovers..."
Does it seem that unreasonable that someone reading this might get the impression your response to pete was partially about disclosure? And can you see how the issue of disclosure ties in to the risk of HCV sexual transmission? Anyway, 'nuff said, no insult intended. And pete, I suggest you find something else to obsess about. Be grateful you don't have HCV, get on with your life and stop shagging prostitutes. Otherwise your current irrational neurosis might end up being replaced with a very real health threat.
willyquote: "If you read my earlier post you'll see that I provide a range of transmission risk, so no, I don't think I'm minimising it to the point of saying don't tell people you have HCV. I would certainly tell a love interest....but I might not tell the guy who delivers me a pizza. : ) This thread is NOT about disclosure."
Ok it's not about disclosure. But again, after reading some of your initial response to pete, it certainly sounded that way when you said this: "I know people who have lost their jobs over revealing they had HCV. I know people who lost a relationship for disclosing. I know people who were no longer accepted as welcome. We struggle to overcome these perceptions; in society...... amoungst friends and lovers..."
Does it seem that unreasonable that someone reading this might get the impression your response to pete was partially about disclosure? And can you see how the issue of disclosure ties in to the risk of HCV sexual transmission? Anyway, 'nuff said, no insult intended. And pete, I suggest you find something else to obsess about. Be grateful you don't have HCV, get on with your life and stop shagging prostitutes. Otherwise your current irrational neurosis might end up being replaced with a very real health threat.
I think 99 percent of the people who say they transmitted HCV through sex are in total denial of their former drug use.
I know that is a callous thing to say but I honestly believe it to be true. I say it because I was one of those people for a long time.
I know that is a callous thing to say but I honestly believe it to be true. I say it because I was one of those people for a long time.
Personally - I think that you have better chances of walking in front of a truck at exactly 6:25 am on August 3rd, 2008 while standing in front of the Empires State Building.
Yeah it could happen and it does happen. But it's a very unlikely thing.
There are caveats such as rough sexual activity where both people have actively bleeding wounds - such as heavy anal sex, or sex where the skin gets chafed enough to bleed.
Keep reminding yourself that this is a BLOOD to BLOOD Disease.
So yeah----it COULD happen.
The reason why I say this is because there have been decades long studies on monogamous couples ----- and not a single one has the uninfected partner become infected as a guaranteed result of sex.
So that tells me --- since my husband or any other sex partner I have had ---- does NOT have HCV.
No antibodies - NOTHING.
And we have had pretty wild sex. I mean not EVERYTHING goes --- but we're pretty open to trying new things... so its not only missionary style -it's adventurous.
But we're careful about blood. Yanno?
Anyhow - if you're uninfected, give yourself a break. Chill... Relax....
If you got tested - and came out negative --- go read a good book - watch a movie --- go out on a date --- do something fun.... Go live your life.
Go get tested yearly ---- or every two years.... Enjoy... Love, life and laugh!
Meki
Yeah it could happen and it does happen. But it's a very unlikely thing.
There are caveats such as rough sexual activity where both people have actively bleeding wounds - such as heavy anal sex, or sex where the skin gets chafed enough to bleed.
Keep reminding yourself that this is a BLOOD to BLOOD Disease.
So yeah----it COULD happen.
The reason why I say this is because there have been decades long studies on monogamous couples ----- and not a single one has the uninfected partner become infected as a guaranteed result of sex.
So that tells me --- since my husband or any other sex partner I have had ---- does NOT have HCV.
No antibodies - NOTHING.
And we have had pretty wild sex. I mean not EVERYTHING goes --- but we're pretty open to trying new things... so its not only missionary style -it's adventurous.
But we're careful about blood. Yanno?
Anyhow - if you're uninfected, give yourself a break. Chill... Relax....
If you got tested - and came out negative --- go read a good book - watch a movie --- go out on a date --- do something fun.... Go live your life.
Go get tested yearly ---- or every two years.... Enjoy... Love, life and laugh!
Meki
Hi Willy,
thanks for your comments. I know I'm going round in circles, and that I have to stop. From what I've read, the tests are 90% accurate after 3 months, so my 18 week test puts me above that. All I can do is wait with crossed fingers, I guess.
Cheers,
Pete.
thanks for your comments. I know I'm going round in circles, and that I have to stop. From what I've read, the tests are 90% accurate after 3 months, so my 18 week test puts me above that. All I can do is wait with crossed fingers, I guess.
Cheers,
Pete.
It happened to me an ex girlfriend gave it to me, this was after she was supposedly und after tx. Had severe flu like symptoms and tested pos after the fact my fault I should have been careful.
Mre; read the earlier link where Pete explains his exposure. He had an exposure and was worried about it. He's not seeking advice about breaking the news to a potential love interest.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/340860
If you read my earlier post you'll see that I provide a range of transmission risk, so no, I don't think I'm minimising it to the point of saying don't tell people you have HCV. I would certainly tell a love interest....but I might not tell the guy who delivers me a pizza. : ) This thread is NOT about disclosure.
"I usually tell people that they have about a 2% chance of passing it plus or minus 2%."
On one hand I'm trying to put Pete at ease.... and communicate that he may be over-worrying whether he was exposed.
Many people treat HCV as something that is readily transferable thru sex. My point....or one of them is that each type of STD may have a different infection rate attached to it. Sexual transmission of HCV is very very low. Some larger studies have suggested that for monogamous, hetersexual relationships with no anal sex that transmission is less than 1%. It gets down to the point that they can't prove or disprove tenths of a percent. This is why I like to give a range. The studies all have a range and generally they are consistently in that they all have low transmission rates. (for the hetersexual and non anal sexual intercourse)
Pete, I don't think your comments are thoughtless. The chances of transmission are low but ultimately the only thing that will tell you is a test; either a elisa or riba antibody test or a PCR. We all have felt the fear of being first diagnosed and so I'd imagine that many people can understand your fear. It's one reason that I've answered you several times.
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/hepatitis/guidelines/diagnosis.htm
The initial screening test to be used in all circumstances is a test for antibody to hepatitis C viral proteins (anti-HCV). These tests become positive as early as 8-10 weeks after infection, will be positive in 97% of patients by 6 months after infection, and probably will persist for life. (I believe at about 18 weeks your test should have been in the area of 80% accurate. -Willy)
You tested negative at 18 weeks. You can either retest with a elisa or riba antibody test or get a PCR for about 300 bucks.
It's not that a question is thoughtless.....it's just that repeated revisions of the same question here and other forums are a little obsessive. Anyones opinion will not have the weight or certainty of a test.
best,
willy
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/340860
If you read my earlier post you'll see that I provide a range of transmission risk, so no, I don't think I'm minimising it to the point of saying don't tell people you have HCV. I would certainly tell a love interest....but I might not tell the guy who delivers me a pizza. : ) This thread is NOT about disclosure.
"I usually tell people that they have about a 2% chance of passing it plus or minus 2%."
On one hand I'm trying to put Pete at ease.... and communicate that he may be over-worrying whether he was exposed.
Many people treat HCV as something that is readily transferable thru sex. My point....or one of them is that each type of STD may have a different infection rate attached to it. Sexual transmission of HCV is very very low. Some larger studies have suggested that for monogamous, hetersexual relationships with no anal sex that transmission is less than 1%. It gets down to the point that they can't prove or disprove tenths of a percent. This is why I like to give a range. The studies all have a range and generally they are consistently in that they all have low transmission rates. (for the hetersexual and non anal sexual intercourse)
Pete, I don't think your comments are thoughtless. The chances of transmission are low but ultimately the only thing that will tell you is a test; either a elisa or riba antibody test or a PCR. We all have felt the fear of being first diagnosed and so I'd imagine that many people can understand your fear. It's one reason that I've answered you several times.
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/hepatitis/guidelines/diagnosis.htm
The initial screening test to be used in all circumstances is a test for antibody to hepatitis C viral proteins (anti-HCV). These tests become positive as early as 8-10 weeks after infection, will be positive in 97% of patients by 6 months after infection, and probably will persist for life. (I believe at about 18 weeks your test should have been in the area of 80% accurate. -Willy)
You tested negative at 18 weeks. You can either retest with a elisa or riba antibody test or get a PCR for about 300 bucks.
It's not that a question is thoughtless.....it's just that repeated revisions of the same question here and other forums are a little obsessive. Anyones opinion will not have the weight or certainty of a test.
best,
willy
You will not find the 100% absolutely definitive answer you appear to be seeking. We can't give it to you. The doctors can't. And I think you probably know this by now. You already tested negative but are in the "window". There is only one thing for you to do and that is to test again when the window period is over. Your odds of testing positive are very slim but you must know that already. Going over and over it in your mind will not change the result.
-- Jim
-- Jim
Sometimes you're reduced to looking at statistical data, because who can follow around any human being throughout their lives and say with complete accuracy how a person contracted an infections disease?
Fortunately, there are honest, forthcoming people that we can rely on with some degree of accuracy...with HIV, there were many couples, singles, hetero and otherwise, who reported getting HIV though sex though in anonymous questionnaires. (Of course with this type of info gathering, the results can always be skewed - and a percentage of error is always factored in...)
You just don't see this with the statistical data for HCV....no where I've looked anyway...
Fortunately, there are honest, forthcoming people that we can rely on with some degree of accuracy...with HIV, there were many couples, singles, hetero and otherwise, who reported getting HIV though sex though in anonymous questionnaires. (Of course with this type of info gathering, the results can always be skewed - and a percentage of error is always factored in...)
You just don't see this with the statistical data for HCV....no where I've looked anyway...
Sometimes you're reduced to looking at statistical data, because who can follow around any human being throughout their lives and say with complete accuracy how a person contracted an infections disease?
Fortunately, there are honest, forthcoming people that we can rely on with some degree of accuracy...with HIV, there were many couples, singles, hetero and otherwise, who reported getting HIV though sex though in anonymous questionnaires. (Of course with this type of info gathering, the results can always be skewed - and a percentage of error is always factored in...)
You just don't see this with the statistical data for HCV....no where I've looked anyway...
Fortunately, there are honest, forthcoming people that we can rely on with some degree of accuracy...with HIV, there were many couples, singles, hetero and otherwise, who reported getting HIV though sex though in anonymous questionnaires. (Of course with this type of info gathering, the results can always be skewed - and a percentage of error is always factored in...)
You just don't see this with the statistical data for HCV....no where I've looked anyway...
Sometimes you're reduced to looking at statistical data, because who can follow around any human being throughout their lives and say with complete accuracy how a person contracted an infections disease?
Fortunately, there are honest, forthcoming people that we can rely on with some degree of accuracy...with HIV, there were many couples, singles, hetero and otherwise, who reported getting HIV though sex though in anonymous questionnaires. (Of course with this type of info gathering, the results can always be skewed - and a percentage of error is always factored in...)
You just don't see this with the statistical data for HCV....no where I've looked anyway...
Fortunately, there are honest, forthcoming people that we can rely on with some degree of accuracy...with HIV, there were many couples, singles, hetero and otherwise, who reported getting HIV though sex though in anonymous questionnaires. (Of course with this type of info gathering, the results can always be skewed - and a percentage of error is always factored in...)
You just don't see this with the statistical data for HCV....no where I've looked anyway...
Hi Mremeet,
my situation is this. I think I may have been exposed to HepC through sex, and am trying to work out if I have been at risk or not. With Willy50's comments in mind, I can see that my comments may have been taken as thoughtless. For this, I apologise.
Unfortunately, my ignorance is a result of the information on many websites. Having spent some weeks trying to make sense of it all, and not knowing who or what to believe, I decided to try and get some information from those that know best, and have experience to back it up - the folks here on this forum. My potential exposure was protected sex, with unprotected oral. I've been tested, and the results have been negative so far, but I'm still within the window period.
Cheers,
Pete.
my situation is this. I think I may have been exposed to HepC through sex, and am trying to work out if I have been at risk or not. With Willy50's comments in mind, I can see that my comments may have been taken as thoughtless. For this, I apologise.
Unfortunately, my ignorance is a result of the information on many websites. Having spent some weeks trying to make sense of it all, and not knowing who or what to believe, I decided to try and get some information from those that know best, and have experience to back it up - the folks here on this forum. My potential exposure was protected sex, with unprotected oral. I've been tested, and the results have been negative so far, but I'm still within the window period.
Cheers,
Pete.
Willyquote: " I know people who lost a relationship for disclosing. I know people who were no longer accepted as welcome."
I hope you're not suggesting that the odds of communicating HCV via "normal" hetero sex are so remote as so put it into the category of "why bother to disclose it to your girl/boyfriend?" It isn't winning the powerball lottery rare, it does happen. I personally know a person who was almost certainly infected during normal hetero sex that did not involve in any obvious blood transference. It can happen, it does happen.
Pete you don't mention if it's you that has HCV or if there's someone else you're interested in (or are having sex with already) that has HCV. Whatever the case, if you don't mind me saying, it sounds like you're fishing for permission or to put some firmament under a rationalization to NOT tell someone that should be told of your HCV+ status. Or perhaps you're trying to convince yourself that the risk is so miniscule you shouldn't worry about getting it from someone else. If it's the former, TELL HER. If it's the latter, wear a condom until you have more time to think about it. If you choose to go condom-less later because YOU are willing to take the risk of being infected by an infected partner, that's certainly your prerogative. But it is not your prerogative to make that same decision for someone else without them knowing it.
I hope you're not suggesting that the odds of communicating HCV via "normal" hetero sex are so remote as so put it into the category of "why bother to disclose it to your girl/boyfriend?" It isn't winning the powerball lottery rare, it does happen. I personally know a person who was almost certainly infected during normal hetero sex that did not involve in any obvious blood transference. It can happen, it does happen.
Pete you don't mention if it's you that has HCV or if there's someone else you're interested in (or are having sex with already) that has HCV. Whatever the case, if you don't mind me saying, it sounds like you're fishing for permission or to put some firmament under a rationalization to NOT tell someone that should be told of your HCV+ status. Or perhaps you're trying to convince yourself that the risk is so miniscule you shouldn't worry about getting it from someone else. If it's the former, TELL HER. If it's the latter, wear a condom until you have more time to think about it. If you choose to go condom-less later because YOU are willing to take the risk of being infected by an infected partner, that's certainly your prerogative. But it is not your prerogative to make that same decision for someone else without them knowing it.
Hi Willy50,
those are damn fine words, my friend. And noted. As a guy who's concerned about a possible HepC infection, I'm moved by the support that is shown through this forum.
I'm trying to educate myself. With the answers I'm looking for, I hope to be able to not have to ask such questions in the future. Who knows, maybe others (who don't have HepC, or haven't yet been diagnosed) can learn from the answers as well.
Pete.
those are damn fine words, my friend. And noted. As a guy who's concerned about a possible HepC infection, I'm moved by the support that is shown through this forum.
I'm trying to educate myself. With the answers I'm looking for, I hope to be able to not have to ask such questions in the future. Who knows, maybe others (who don't have HepC, or haven't yet been diagnosed) can learn from the answers as well.
Pete.
You are correct, in a sense that there is a gap between what is known and accepted as fact and theory.
There is a saying........that a butterfly can flap it's wings in China and cause tidal waves half a world away. .........It's possible........but it just isn't very likely.
And so it goes with transmission of HCV.......
.....Thru sexual intercourse
Thru breastfeeding ones child
Thru cooking for ones family
or passing it thru a kiss
or sheading a tear that may contain miniscule amounts of HCV RNA
or thru the many ways that we love ....on thru to the very basics in how we live our daily life..
Those of us that post on boards know the risk is very low. We tend to know how to further reduce risk so that it becomes even less.
Part of our recovery is to CEASE repeating the mantra; "I'm infected. I'm contagious. I'm infected, I'm contagious".
In addition to our own struggle to convince ourselves that we can lead normal lives with little or no threat to others we also have to struggle with convincing others that we are safe, that we aren't leppers, or that many of us came to be infected thru no fault of our own.
I know people who have lost their jobs over revealing they had HCV. I know people who lost a relationship for disclosing. I know people who were no longer accepted as welcome.
We struggle to overcome these perceptions; in society...... amoungst friends and lovers......and sometimes our very doctors.
Perhaps the most important person who we must satisfy is OURSELVES.
It's no fault of yours..... you are just trying to ask a question and get an answer. There is a decided edge in our responses I suppose because we cherish that margin of safety that allows us to live as humans and live as normal lives as we can. Most of us were unable to transmit the virus to our loved ones even when we didn't know we had the virus. To some extent we all need to chill out and forget our fears. We may also need to share the basics with others...... but I hope you can understand that for many of us we simply choose to not live our lives denying that we are a threat. We just want to live our lives. : )
Yes, such threads are helpful. It's equally true that such threads are plentiful. We have all responded to them many times and no doubt will again many, many, times.
Best,
Willy
There is a saying........that a butterfly can flap it's wings in China and cause tidal waves half a world away. .........It's possible........but it just isn't very likely.
And so it goes with transmission of HCV.......
.....Thru sexual intercourse
Thru breastfeeding ones child
Thru cooking for ones family
or passing it thru a kiss
or sheading a tear that may contain miniscule amounts of HCV RNA
or thru the many ways that we love ....on thru to the very basics in how we live our daily life..
Those of us that post on boards know the risk is very low. We tend to know how to further reduce risk so that it becomes even less.
Part of our recovery is to CEASE repeating the mantra; "I'm infected. I'm contagious. I'm infected, I'm contagious".
In addition to our own struggle to convince ourselves that we can lead normal lives with little or no threat to others we also have to struggle with convincing others that we are safe, that we aren't leppers, or that many of us came to be infected thru no fault of our own.
I know people who have lost their jobs over revealing they had HCV. I know people who lost a relationship for disclosing. I know people who were no longer accepted as welcome.
We struggle to overcome these perceptions; in society...... amoungst friends and lovers......and sometimes our very doctors.
Perhaps the most important person who we must satisfy is OURSELVES.
It's no fault of yours..... you are just trying to ask a question and get an answer. There is a decided edge in our responses I suppose because we cherish that margin of safety that allows us to live as humans and live as normal lives as we can. Most of us were unable to transmit the virus to our loved ones even when we didn't know we had the virus. To some extent we all need to chill out and forget our fears. We may also need to share the basics with others...... but I hope you can understand that for many of us we simply choose to not live our lives denying that we are a threat. We just want to live our lives. : )
Yes, such threads are helpful. It's equally true that such threads are plentiful. We have all responded to them many times and no doubt will again many, many, times.
Best,
Willy
Hi Willy,
sorry, I probably didn't phrase the question properly. I know that many people on the forum won't know how they got infected.
What I was more interested in really was how people who have HepC and are in relationships behave, to try and see what the risks are. I know there are theoretical risks, but I read the European study of 800 couples who didn't pass the virus between each other despite no condom use but was wondering what the real life experiences are of those on the forum.
Sorry if my question seems repetitive. I've kinda asked this question before, and I'm sure many others have. But there's so much info out there, it's hard to work out what's real and what's hype. I, myself, am a victim of this hype, but things don't seem so cut and dried once you look into it. This forum is a great chance to remove a lot of the myths (and fear) about HepC if appropriate and educate people.
Cheers,
Pete.
sorry, I probably didn't phrase the question properly. I know that many people on the forum won't know how they got infected.
What I was more interested in really was how people who have HepC and are in relationships behave, to try and see what the risks are. I know there are theoretical risks, but I read the European study of 800 couples who didn't pass the virus between each other despite no condom use but was wondering what the real life experiences are of those on the forum.
Sorry if my question seems repetitive. I've kinda asked this question before, and I'm sure many others have. But there's so much info out there, it's hard to work out what's real and what's hype. I, myself, am a victim of this hype, but things don't seem so cut and dried once you look into it. This forum is a great chance to remove a lot of the myths (and fear) about HepC if appropriate and educate people.
Cheers,
Pete.
I suspect I got hep c thru a little rough sex though my dental work is a remote possibility
Based on my experience.....yes,...there is a possibility of getting hep c trhu sex
So the moral of the story is...be gentle
Based on my experience.....yes,...there is a possibility of getting hep c trhu sex
So the moral of the story is...be gentle
12 years - negative transmissioin to spouse --- with multiple types of sexual activities... *G*
I honestly don't think that sexual transmission is a consideration for transmission (however ---- I must add the caveat that this is a BLOOD TO BLOOD disease.... so if there is blood transmission during your sexual activity - then of course the chance is there...)
So stay away from vampire sex... and don't get too rough.
Meki
I honestly don't think that sexual transmission is a consideration for transmission (however ---- I must add the caveat that this is a BLOOD TO BLOOD disease.... so if there is blood transmission during your sexual activity - then of course the chance is there...)
So stay away from vampire sex... and don't get too rough.
Meki
My doctor thinks i got in in the 70's from when i did drugs, but i somehow think i got it from sex, just a feeling....however i was married 22 years and my ex does NOT have it.
One of the hepatologists said that in 20 years of unprotected sex a monogamous couple has only a 5% chance of spreading it from one partner to the other. It is a BLOOD borne illness. One person's blood has to come in contact with the other person's blood.
I usually tell people that they have about a 2% chance of passing it plus or minus 2%.
Not everybody has the same sexual experience after all. Man to Man sex has a much higher risk that that however, especially when using meth.
Sorry, but it really isn't a very good question. Just how would one know if they were infected; go get a test after each intercourse session? How would that rule out other possibilities?
You have a much greater chance of contacting almost anything other than HCV thru intercourse.
I've read that standard HIV transmission thru unprotected vaginal sex is 1 infection per 1-200 sexual events. I believe that HPV is is almost 100% efficient transmission. I know people who have been infected with HCV for 30 years who have not yet given it to their spouse.
Why would you be at such high risk for being infected?
By the way......it is regarded as poor form to post duplicate threads.
best wishes,
Willy
Not everybody has the same sexual experience after all. Man to Man sex has a much higher risk that that however, especially when using meth.
Sorry, but it really isn't a very good question. Just how would one know if they were infected; go get a test after each intercourse session? How would that rule out other possibilities?
You have a much greater chance of contacting almost anything other than HCV thru intercourse.
I've read that standard HIV transmission thru unprotected vaginal sex is 1 infection per 1-200 sexual events. I believe that HPV is is almost 100% efficient transmission. I know people who have been infected with HCV for 30 years who have not yet given it to their spouse.
Why would you be at such high risk for being infected?
By the way......it is regarded as poor form to post duplicate threads.
best wishes,
Willy
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