Can we do IUI if one of us has HCV?

[TTCinCA2011]

Hello to all of you, and thanks in advance for reading and any input, my husband and I are totally lost here.
During a routine infectious disease screening before our IUI cycle scheduled for next month my husband tested + for the HCV antibody. I tested negative.
My husband doesn't have any history that would cause us to consider contracting HCV, other than a tattoo at 16, and a few fist fights.
He had the RNA test today, and we are awaiting results. Our doctor thinks it could be a false positive.
My question is, can we still go through with our IUI cycle if he has HCV? Or is the diagnosis a deal breaker? Are there a large risk of birth defects if the male partner gets treated for HCV and we conceive on our own?
Any info, or similar experience is appreciated.

[Carlhcv]

lol. Gotta hate it when that happens! :)

[flyinlynn]

You have commented on an old thread the last time nomorhepcliz commented was in 2011

I suggest you click the post a new question link it is greenat the top of the page on the right. So every one will see your question that way you can get more responses

[Carlhcv]

Only "other" viable possibility is what I meant to say.

[Carlhcv]

A tattoo is most likely how I got hep c over 30 years ago. The only viable possibility would be a contaminated dental instrument since I had extensive dental work done.

[Phillipkilp]

Can I ask where you live to be able to have a iui with hep c?  My wife and I have been trying to find a clinic to do ours.

[alagirl]

I do not know what IUI is specifically.  I do know that there is a "swim up" method that fertility doctors can and do use with both hiv and hcv + male patients to clear the virus from the sperm before IVF procedures, and it apparently works very well.

[nomorehepcliz]

I have had 3 kids while infected with hep C, including IVF treatments (how I had my twins) IUI that never worked, years of stuff - got me ready for my injections now...  All of my kids are HCV neg but we are really careful at home.  I nursed them, too.  So, I would find out how much damage there is to your husband's liver, what genotype he is and anything else to make some informed decisions about care. I don't know what the rate of transmission of mother to fetus is, I didn't think it was high.  Susie is right about treatment though, can't do that.

[James10500]

Our Doc told us no dont do it.  There are bloodcells in the sperm, when the sperm fertilizes the egg that's where the transfer could occur.  We didnt think it was worth it. Thus I treated, and we should be ready to go in late Aug.

+1 Susie  lets hope he was one of the 20% who got rid of it on his own.

[SusieS2010]

Hi TTCinCA. You cannot become pregnant if your husband is treating. In fact both of you should use birth control for six months after treatment ends. There is a very strong risk of fetal demise or severe birth defects from ribavirin, even if it is your hubby who is taking it.
You can certainly do IUI or even do IVF as long as he is not treating.

Let's hope that his next test comes back and you find out he does not actually have chronic hepatitis C. Good luck to you both.