Sooo I started to date a girl who has hepatitis c

wallywest

I started to date a girl who has hepatitis C, and I really like her. She's fun, smart, really pretty. But I have this underlying fear of catching the virus... I know the chances are slim. We've only kissed intensely a few times, and had minor minor foreplay (hand job, not oral). I really want to take things slow, but what risks, actual risks do I have with her? I don't want to reread the websites of how I can and cannot get it, I want someone who can really advise me. Do the pros (her being awesome) out weigh the cons? :-/

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ActingBrandNew

If your girlfriend treats and attains SVR...that's it. She doesn't have to have yearly maintenance or anything like that...its over and she can move on.

Sustained virologic response (SVR) is defined as aviremia 24 weeks after completion of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In analyses of SVR durability, the incidence of late relapse is extremely low (<1%)

I do like some of Alan Moore's work. V and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

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wallywest

Awww, Dee! Congratulations! That's awesome! I'm ecstatic that there is hope for this thing. You have also totally given me assurance in losing this fear. :) thank you. I'm really happy that you were able to beat this sucker into submission!

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wallywest

But if she were to have the SVR, would it be permanent? Or something that she would need to have done once or twice a year? I'm seeing her tonight, so I would love to sit down with her and really talk about this. She says she has no symptoms and that she feels fine, and that she doesn't take medication for this. She acts so level headed and composed, meanwhile I'm freaking out for the both of us. I want her to be healthy for herself and her daughters sake. Ugggggggggggggggh!!!

But, on an unrelated note, are you by any chance an Alan Moore fan? Your avatar has V, which happens to be my favorite graphic novel of his.

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Dee1956

Hi I just wanted to say that I was told in June that I am now cured of HCV.
There are many people here who did not know they had HCV, married, had and raised children, there families do not have it.
The risk is very slight and there is a cure.
Congratulations on meeting someone you are so happy with
Dee
Here is another person who was just told he was cured.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Woot-/show/1991812

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ActingBrandNew

Basically, when you become undetectable there no longer is any virus to pass on. I treated my HCV with drugs called Interferon and Ribavirin for 28 weeks. The virus hasnt been detected in my blood since week 5 of treatment and I am now 4 months post treatment and still undetectable.

Your girlfriend should make an appointment to see a Hepatologist to see where shes at. They have the current drugs but also have new ones the FDA is scheduled to review in December of this year.

I really understand the nervousness...I commend you for doing the research and educating yourself. You may even be able to educate your girlfriend some as well.

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ActingBrandNew

Its called a Sustained Virological Response. You gain this status by the virus remaining undetectable 24 weeks after treatment. There are drug combinations to treat HCV.

Sustained Virologic Response to Antiviral Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Cure and So Much More

"Available evidence suggests that a SVR is tantamount to HCV infection cure".

http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/52/7/889.full

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