Aa
Spread of the virus through sex
Ok, it's been a long time since I've been here. I used to post here. Was a geno 1a, high viral load. Rapid response to Interferon/Ribavirin treatment, cleared, remained clear.
Anyway, my girlfriend is 7 months pregnant and during all the questions and such with her doctor I mentioned right off the bat that I did have Hep C, but that I treated and cleared. So they tested her and obviously she was negative. Now, I was always told and under the impression that it was extremely difficult to transmit the virus through sex. According to this doctor though, it happens quite easily. The way she made it sound was like it was any other STD. I find this very hard to believe, especially since my ex and I had sexual contact probably hundreds of times while I had the virus (because we were told that it was NOT passed through sex unless we were both bleeding) and she never got it.
Can someone clear this up for me once and for all. It was actually a legitimate argument with my girlfriend's mother as her doctor also basically said I was gonna give her the virus, which, given my status, is obviously nonsense.
Thanks
Anyway, my girlfriend is 7 months pregnant and during all the questions and such with her doctor I mentioned right off the bat that I did have Hep C, but that I treated and cleared. So they tested her and obviously she was negative. Now, I was always told and under the impression that it was extremely difficult to transmit the virus through sex. According to this doctor though, it happens quite easily. The way she made it sound was like it was any other STD. I find this very hard to believe, especially since my ex and I had sexual contact probably hundreds of times while I had the virus (because we were told that it was NOT passed through sex unless we were both bleeding) and she never got it.
Can someone clear this up for me once and for all. It was actually a legitimate argument with my girlfriend's mother as her doctor also basically said I was gonna give her the virus, which, given my status, is obviously nonsense.
Thanks
Thank you, thank you for that link!!
I have been asking for some "relieable" literature, but not CDC, on this topic of sexual transmission!! Yours is the first I have finally come across. I opened it and bookmarked it as I don't have time to read it in full nor peruse the site right now, but I will. Even the CDC has it under the huge heading of STD and many argue on here that HCV is not an STD. I find the CDC is kind of driving/fueling the notion that it is and maybe they need to update their site?
When this topic is posted on this site the thread "blow up" with numerous and contradictory posts; people even get angry. I hope they all know we are just doing the best we can to get info and the CDC seems to counter the insignificance of sexual transmission.(IMO)
I have been asking for some "relieable" literature, but not CDC, on this topic of sexual transmission!! Yours is the first I have finally come across. I opened it and bookmarked it as I don't have time to read it in full nor peruse the site right now, but I will. Even the CDC has it under the huge heading of STD and many argue on here that HCV is not an STD. I find the CDC is kind of driving/fueling the notion that it is and maybe they need to update their site?
When this topic is posted on this site the thread "blow up" with numerous and contradictory posts; people even get angry. I hope they all know we are just doing the best we can to get info and the CDC seems to counter the insignificance of sexual transmission.(IMO)
I for one am glad you have been honest about having had hep C.
Perhaps if everyone was open about it, as willing to mention it as they would be other diseases, then the stigma would not be so present.
We who have experience with this virus have an opportunity to educate others.
I'm not talking about going on a bloody pulpit but if the subject comes up, I find myself saying things like, " Did you know more people in the US are dying from hep C than AIDS? That its the number one cause for liver transplants and that many people have no idea how they got it "
Kudos to you.
Perhaps if everyone was open about it, as willing to mention it as they would be other diseases, then the stigma would not be so present.
We who have experience with this virus have an opportunity to educate others.
I'm not talking about going on a bloody pulpit but if the subject comes up, I find myself saying things like, " Did you know more people in the US are dying from hep C than AIDS? That its the number one cause for liver transplants and that many people have no idea how they got it "
Kudos to you.
Thank you, guys. I told my girlfriend and her mom (when we were still speaking) that the majority of regular doctors are largely clueless about the details of Hep C, and that even if I did still carry the virus it was highly unlikely she would ever contract it.
Unfortunately, there's a lot of stigma that comes with having Hep C, and the fact that I openly admitted I had contracted it as an IV drug user basically had me tagged with disapproval right off the bat. But...that's all in the past (thank God), and going through that treatment made me a stronger individual than I ever imagined I could be.
Unfortunately, there's a lot of stigma that comes with having Hep C, and the fact that I openly admitted I had contracted it as an IV drug user basically had me tagged with disapproval right off the bat. But...that's all in the past (thank God), and going through that treatment made me a stronger individual than I ever imagined I could be.
Last July I had a hysterectomy. At that point in time, the OB/GYN said that I probably got it from a "dirty penis." I didn't bother arguing the facts that when I was infected, I had only one sexual partner (my oldest's dad), and that he doesn't have it. Ignorance about HepC is abundant.
Any Dr. who works with the public should be able to give accurate information regarding Hep.C. I am not talking about blood tests, drugs etc., I mean simple lay person info. It is a Drs. responsibility to know what she is talking about when giving information to her patients, whatever their specialty. He didn't even ask, the doc just thought she had to tell him something that wasn't even true. I find that irresponsible on her part.
My doctor had no idea what SVR meant..........not a bit and still has me listed as a chronic carrier even though I was SVR when I met him and told him so.
Yeah they have no idea at all.
Yeah they have no idea at all.
I assume you girlfriend's doctor is an OB/GYN? So why would you be concerned about a doctor who specializes in the surgical management of female reproductive organs, and to provide care for both pregnant and non-pregnant patients. The doctor has no expertise in diagnosing, treating and managing a virus that replicates in the liver.
I you want answers about HCV talk to an experienced gastro that works with hepatitis C patients on a daily basis or better yet to a hepatologist. Would you ask a gastro about the cause of vaginal bleeding problems?
Good luck.
Hector
I you want answers about HCV talk to an experienced gastro that works with hepatitis C patients on a daily basis or better yet to a hepatologist. Would you ask a gastro about the cause of vaginal bleeding problems?
Good luck.
Hector
You do not have the virus to give to anybody. Even if you had it chances are slim I have been with my husband twenty four years and he does not have it. We were together 15 y before I found out I had it.
It has been my experience that unless you are sitting in front of a hepatologist, don't even bother mentioning HCV. It's quite astounding how little other drs understand about it. Including your garden variety gastro.
The fact that she tested negative should back up your belief. ;)
The fact that she tested negative should back up your belief. ;)
Since you are clear of the virus this is a moot point.
Do those people understand what undetected means???
Transmission is blood to blood.
Unfortunately just because someone has a PHD and should know better, doesn't mean they do.
To back up your argument you could refer that doc and others to the following web site which I found on a quick google search, no doubt you could find more.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/hepc.htm
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States; an estimated 3.2 million persons are chronically infected (449). Although HCV is not efficiently transmitted sexually, persons at risk for infection through injection-drug use might seek care in STD treatment facilities...
Sexual transmission of HCV had been considered to occur rarely. However, recent data indicate that sexual transmission of HCV can occur, especially among HIV-infected persons.
Several studies have revealed that risk increases commensurate with increasing numbers of sex partners among heterosexual persons especially if those partners are coinfected with HIV (459–465).
Do those people understand what undetected means???
Transmission is blood to blood.
Unfortunately just because someone has a PHD and should know better, doesn't mean they do.
To back up your argument you could refer that doc and others to the following web site which I found on a quick google search, no doubt you could find more.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/hepc.htm
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States; an estimated 3.2 million persons are chronically infected (449). Although HCV is not efficiently transmitted sexually, persons at risk for infection through injection-drug use might seek care in STD treatment facilities...
Sexual transmission of HCV had been considered to occur rarely. However, recent data indicate that sexual transmission of HCV can occur, especially among HIV-infected persons.
Several studies have revealed that risk increases commensurate with increasing numbers of sex partners among heterosexual persons especially if those partners are coinfected with HIV (459–465).
First you right and the doctor is wrong, second you can't give something you don't have....... Good luck educating them.
Sex and HCV
Most experts believe that the risk of sexual transmission of HCV is low. Most studies show that only a small percentage of people – usually ranging from 0-3% – contract HCV through unprotected heterosexual intercourse with a long-term, monogamous HCV-positive partner. Health Canada estimates the risk that a person will get HCV from unprotected sex with a steady HCV-infected partner at 2.5% over 20 years.
http://www.hepcassoc.org/news/article27.html
Sex and HCV
Most experts believe that the risk of sexual transmission of HCV is low. Most studies show that only a small percentage of people – usually ranging from 0-3% – contract HCV through unprotected heterosexual intercourse with a long-term, monogamous HCV-positive partner. Health Canada estimates the risk that a person will get HCV from unprotected sex with a steady HCV-infected partner at 2.5% over 20 years.
http://www.hepcassoc.org/news/article27.html
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