Sex and HEP C

[faithfulfail]

I was just discovered I have HEP C and have not spoken to anyone!!
Hubby wants to have SEX and Im scared!!! I dont want to tell to use a condom he is going to question that!!
OMG!! Im soooooooooooooo lost right now!! NEW TO ALL THIS!!

[Sallybell_love]

I can understand how u feel! I am 39 years old and I was diagnosed with hep c when I was 35! It was detected within 6month period because I had been tested for it already! My reason for getting tested to start with was I had heard my boyfriend at the time(which has since passed on) had been cheating on me with a girl that was suppose to have hepatitis c! Well when I tested negative I assumed ppl was just starting tales so I continued my relationship as normal! Then I thought I was having a UTI went to dr and that's what he said was that I had UTI so he put me on bactrim and parydium. After taking for a few days my eyes started turning yellow. I brushed it off! Then my skin started turning yellow! I called pharmacy and they said it was the Medicine effecting my liver to go to dr. I went to dr and sure enough my enzymes and billyrubin was out the roof! They tested me for hep c again and this time it was positive!!!!! I was so embarrassed and scared! They sent me too a awesome gastrointestinal dr and he did biopsy on my liver. My liver was perfect so he told me what the treatment was to cure it. He prescribed the medicines and I took it for 8 months I do believe and I tested negative ever since!!!! I sympathize with u I do! My boyfriend passed away about 8 months later, and I had to move on. With that being said it's hard to go into a relationship and being scared they may find out from someone that I had the hep c! I started dating a guy and a month into relationship I let him know what had happened to me! He was mad I hadn't told him before and I asked him if he would have gave me a chance if he had known from the start and he said no! I told him that's why I didn't tell him in beginning, but I showed him my paperwork and my test results where I no longer had it and he finally came around! It's a scary thing thinking u may loose a loved one over this but they need to know and it's our responsibility to tell them. I hope u do what's best and I r definitely in my thoughts and prayers!

[djalicoleman]

happy tuesday...please be honest with your hubby...he LOves u and it's going to be a lot less stressful for you not to have to carry the burden of having Hep C and lying to him...the truth is always the best route to go...especially when it comes to the people that LOve us ~

[mauilady]

No worries.  Been with my hubby for 35 years, had HCV for 45, and hubby is clear, not as trace of the virus.

[Idyllic]

It doesn't appear as if you have been back since you posted but I encourage you to be sure you actually have the virus. I have met so many people who think the have Hepatitis C but were only ever tested for the Antibody.

[patra_]

I am one of those couples Lynn was talking about - I had Hep C for over 40 years and my husband never became infected.  We we're married before I became infected  (blood transfusion after losing a baby - at least that is the only exposure we know of - however there are so many ways of becoming infected tattoo with infected needle or ink, body piercing, dental, mani/pedis, all with infected tools, medical personnel with needle sticks after its use on an infected person, drug needle sharing of course, but as you can see, there are many many ways.  oh, and there are also people born with it - passed from an infected mother).

Anyway, we never used protection, and my husband was retested after I reach SVR (Sustained Viral Response = Cured) and he was still negative.

I agree with Lynn in all ways, and he needs to know.  By the way, he should not be concerned about how - or even when - you got the Hep C - I and many others of us, had it for 20+ years, before we ever even knew I had it.

Get treated, and go forward and, as Lynn said, as long as you all aren't having rough sex and are monogamous, there is no reason you can't continue to enjoy all the benefits of marriage. : -). And , for both your peace of mind, he should get tested.

Blessings,  Pat

[flyinlynn]

While hep c theoretically can be sexually transmitted the risk is very small

Hep c is not considered to be an STD per the CDC and in fact they do not suggest that long term monogamous couples use barrier protection IE condoms. There are dozens here who can attest that they have been married many years and when testes one spouse has hep c but the other does not.

Hep c requires blood to blood contact to be transmitted so if you engage in rough sex practices or you are also infected with HIV that would increase the risk of sexual transmission.

At some point you really need to discuss with your husband that you have hep c so he can be tested but the risk of him being infected by you are negligible.

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm

from the CDC link

"Can Hepatitis C be spread through sexual contact?

Yes, but the risk of transmission from sexual contact is believed to be low. The risk increases for those who have multiple sex partners, have a sexually transmitted disease, engage in rough sex, or are infected with HIV. More research is needed to better understand how and when Hepatitis C can be spread through sexual contact."

Lynn

[hepcandme]

I would think that your hubby would be concerned and thoughtful about what can happen when his partner is diagnosed with a serious illness