Hi, I'm a 23 yo female, US, white, upper class background. I will admit I do have OCD, which used to center around HIV and now is about hep c. It seems so easy to get, but that makes me wonder why it's only 1% of the population who has it, not 75%. I see studies saying 40% of patients cite no risk factors, so presumably they got it from everyday occurrences. But if that's so easy to have happen, why don't we all have it?
In addition, my boyfriend essentially has the same "risk factors" as I do, and he refuses to get tested. He also says I shouldn't get tested because it will only make my OCD worse. My old therapist agrees, as do my parents. I will probably get tested anyway, after I see a new therapist to help treat OCD.
More than anything I would like to know what my risk is. The only risk factors I can think of:
1.) I shared a bill to snort cocaine once with a young friend. I have no history of cocaine/drug use other than that.
2.) I once walked 2 blocks barefoot and when I got home I realized I had cut my toe, but I didn't know how it happened (upper class residential area)
3.) I go to the gym a lot, presumably at some point I've had a cut on my hand.
4.) I have had mani/pedis a few times but the places seemed hygienic. It was all after 2004 so presumably they were aware of hep c.
5.) My brother and I were both born with jaundice (I required no treatment) however my mother says she was probably tested for hep c recently when she was approved for life insurance in 2010 and they tested her for tons of things including hiv.
6.) I have had oral surgery before, but I didn't get any blood products to my knowledge and it was all after 1997.
With all of this, I feel like I 100% have hep c, but then I realize it's still not a common disease, and MOST people don't have it. Most people have probably encountered the things I've encountered, so I'm just confused...if it's so easy to get why don't we all have it, and what's my risk?