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Hep C risk from sex toy
Hello Doctor,
I am a 30 year old woman, and recently I bought a sex toy online, and it was delivered to me after two days. Stupidly, I did not wash it before inserting it into my vagina.
I am now really worried about Hepatitis C infection. Because I learned that Hep C is blood transmitted, and the virus can live for a long time outside body, I worry that there was blood or microscopic blood on the sex toy if someone used it before me. I asked the online shop, they said they accept returned sex toys under some circumstances and will resell it to other customers, so it makes me worried.
Am I at risk of Hepatitis C? Can you please explain?
What about other STDs like HIV or Hepatitis B?
What tests shall I do?
Thank you very much and look forward to your reply.
I am a 30 year old woman, and recently I bought a sex toy online, and it was delivered to me after two days. Stupidly, I did not wash it before inserting it into my vagina.
I am now really worried about Hepatitis C infection. Because I learned that Hep C is blood transmitted, and the virus can live for a long time outside body, I worry that there was blood or microscopic blood on the sex toy if someone used it before me. I asked the online shop, they said they accept returned sex toys under some circumstances and will resell it to other customers, so it makes me worried.
Am I at risk of Hepatitis C? Can you please explain?
What about other STDs like HIV or Hepatitis B?
What tests shall I do?
Thank you very much and look forward to your reply.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
From this and your other thread on the HIV Prevention forum it is apparent you are obsessed with infections despite little or no risk. People with normal thinking do not have fears like this. It's like worrying about being hit by a meteorite! It could happen, but nobody should take precautions to prevent it. And you should forget about this. If you cannot, it indicates a need for psychological health care. Continuing replies on this forum will never answer your fears: until the underlying psycological problem is addressed, there will always be another "yes but" or "what if" question. We do not play that game on this forum.
It really matters to me whether or not the viruses could survive.
Can you please help me?
Thank you so much!!!
Can you please help me?
Thank you so much!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Re-read the first sentence of my reply. There is no chance the object was contaminated, so whether or not the viruses could survive really doesn't matter. Do your best to accept common sense and move on. This thread is over.
Thank you very much Dr. Handsfield, your reply is a great relief for me.
But you said HIV, HBV,HCV will die when the body fluids or blood dry out.
However, CDC websites say that and I quote "The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for at least 16 hours but no longer than 4 days. Hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body at least 7 days. During that time, the virus can still cause infection if it enters the body of a person who is not infected."
Their links are as follows:
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/b/bfaq.htm
I am never trying to challenge you, I trust your expertise, however, I am just confused why the CDC and many other official websites that seem authentic will say that the virus can survive for so long.
Can you please explain so that I can understand and not to worry about it anymore?
Thank you very much!
But you said HIV, HBV,HCV will die when the body fluids or blood dry out.
However, CDC websites say that and I quote "The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for at least 16 hours but no longer than 4 days. Hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body at least 7 days. During that time, the virus can still cause infection if it enters the body of a person who is not infected."
Their links are as follows:
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/b/bfaq.htm
I am never trying to challenge you, I trust your expertise, however, I am just confused why the CDC and many other official websites that seem authentic will say that the virus can survive for so long.
Can you please explain so that I can understand and not to worry about it anymore?
Thank you very much!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
There is no realistic chance a newly purchased sex toy had been contaminated with blood or body fluids; and even if it had, any viruses, including the hepatitis C virus, would have died. HCV, HBV, and HIV do not survive when they dry out. You are at absolutely no risk, do not need testing, and should do your best to not worry about this.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
There is no realistic chance a newly purchased sex toy had been contaminated with blood or body fluids; and even if it had, any viruses, including the hepatitis C virus, would have died. HCV, HBV, and HIV do not survive when they dry out. You are at absolutely no risk, do not need testing, and should do your best to not worry about this.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
