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3145189 tn?1343157421

pregnant - father has hep c

So, my fiance has hep c. He's not very knowledgeable or educated. He was told its in the least serious stage. I had my doctor test me and so far I've come back clear. However; just yesterday discovered I am pregnant. Fiance says treatment takes a full year and no sexual interactions can happen. I care less about his personal choice I'm more concerned about baby and I. Any input is greatly appreciated!!!
6 Responses
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766573 tn?1365166466
Stage 0 is not bad. Your fiance has time on his side to treat.

Still, HCV is a liver disease so be sure to check for new developments as there are bound to be less harsh meds in the next few years.

If he were to treat now you could have sex. The meds might subdue his libido but there is not medical contraindication about having sex while taking the current Hepatitis C medications. It is advisable to have protected sex while on the meds but that's about it.
Helpful - 0
3145189 tn?1343157421
Thanks so much. He explained better now that he is in stage 0. His specialist told him to wait until less dangerous medications are available. We will both be seeing a specialist. I really appreciate the information. I was most worried about the baby. It means a lot!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
During tx, there is a good chance your fiancé will have issues with depression, anger, exhaustion, brain fog, and a host of other side effects. I could not drive during tx and at some point I had to stop working.  You will be dealing with emotions, hormones and exhaustion too. Neither of you will be in a great place to take care of the other and both will be in need of some care.  This will pass but the side effects last for months after treatment.   I just want to mention this in hopes you can educate and prepare yourselves and find ways to support each other. Some people find relationships very difficult to maintain during tx.

If your fiancé is in stage 0 or 1, he may wish to wait until the baby is a year old. For some types of hep c, there are new medications that may be approvedin the next few years that will be much easier on your husband.  These drugs are in trials now and are not yet approved by the FDA.  Your fiancé may wish to talk to his doctor about these options.
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163305 tn?1333668571
Thank pooh. I really need to slow down and read things more carefully, especially on the net !
Helpful - 0
1815939 tn?1377991799
Welcome to the forum.

"least serious stage" could mean a lot of things depending on the person making the statement and their interpretation of "least serious stage.".  

He should have a biopsy to determine what liver fibrosis stage he has. That way he can make an informed decision about how urgent it is to treat.

You do not give his Genotype, but the drug that causes the most damage to an unborn fetus is Ribavarin and that drug is part of all treatments for all types of Hepatitis C. At the end of this post I will give you a link to the information.

Since you are already pregnant, it would be strongly advisable to make an appointment with your Obstetrical doctor and discuss this with him/her. Also, it would be strongly advisable for both you and your fiance to make an appt. with his Hep C treating doctor and discuss these issues with him/her, and let him/her know you are pregnant.

You said you tested negative for Hepatitis C. Therefore, you do not have Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is rarely spread through sexual contact (unless the sex is rough sex and both partners are bleeding). Hep C is not spread by casual contact. You have to get the infected blood into your blood stream. The main ways that Hep C is spread are through exposure to contaminated medical equipment (dental, surgical, etc.), blood products (blood products are now screened for Hep C), IV drug use and/or snorting drugs while sharing contaminated equipment, contaminated tattoo equipment, contaminated manicure and pedicure equipment, occupational exposure, body piercings (if equip. contaminated), acupuncture (if equip contaminated), shared tooth brushes or shared razors (with a person who has Hep C).

From drugs.com

"Significant teratogenic and/or embryocidal effects have been demonstrated in all animal species exposed to Ribavirin. In addition, Ribavirin has a multiple dose half-life of 12 days, and it may persist in non-plasma compartments for as long as 6 months. Therefore, Ribavirin, including Ribavirin tablets, is contraindicated in women who are pregnant and in the male partners of women who are pregnant. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy during therapy and for 6 months after completion of therapy in both female patients and in female partners of male patients who are taking Ribavirin therapy. At least two reliable forms of effective contraception must be utilized during treatment and during the 6-month post treatment follow-up period."

"Ribavirin tablets are contraindicated in:"
*Women who are pregnant. Ribavirin tablets may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Ribavirin tablets are contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus."
​*Men whose female partners are pregnant."

" Pregnancy"

​"Ribavirin tablets may cause birth defects and/or death of the exposed fetus. Ribavirin has demonstrated significant teratogenic and/or embryocidal effects in all animal species in which adequate studies have been conducted. These effects occurred at doses as low as one twentieth of the recommended human dose of Ribavirin.'

"​Ribavirin tablets therapy should not be started unless a report of a negative pregnancy test has been obtained immediately prior to planned initiation of therapy. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy in female patients and in female partners of male patients. Patients should be instructed to use at least two forms of effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months after treatment has been stopped. Pregnancy testing should occur monthly during Ribavirin tablets therapy and for 6 months after therapy has stopped "

"Ribavirin tablets may cause birth defects or death of your unborn baby. If you are pregnant or your sexual partner is pregnant, do not take Ribavirin tablets. You or your sexual partner should not become pregnant while you take Ribavirin tablets and for 6 months after treatment is over. You must use two forms of birth control when you take Ribavirin tablets and for the 6 months after treatment.

    Females must have a pregnancy test before starting Ribavirin tablets, every month while treated with Ribavirin tablets, and every month for the 6 months after treatment with Ribavirin tablets.
    If you or your female sexual partner becomes pregnant while taking Ribavirin tablets or within 6 months after you stop taking Ribavirin tablets, tell your healthcare provider right away. You or your healthcare provider should contact the Ribavirin Pregnancy Registry by calling 1-800-593-2214. The Ribavirin Pregnancy Registry collects information about what happens to mothers and their babies if the mother takes Ribavirin tablets while she is pregnant."

http://www.drugs.com/pro/ribavirin.html


I think once you talk with your Obstetrician and your fiancee's Hep C treating doc, you will have a clearer understanding of what you need to do and what you need to avoid.

Best of luck.
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
I'm not quite sure about the 'no sex' clause other than that maybe the treatment could affect his libidio.

Your being pregnant means you'll be emotional from your hormonal changes and wanting support at a time when he'll also need support and may not be up to doing much more than getting off the couch.

His having hep C will not affect the baby. Hep c is spread by blood to blood contact.

It really would help if you shared more information with us. A serious stage does not tell us exactly how much liver damage he has.

Hopefully he is seeing a very qualified hepatologist experienced in treating hep C.

Best of luck~
OH

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