Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => Hepatitis C and HIV Coinfection => Topic started by: BellaPenna on July 05, 2014, 12:07:03 pm
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Hello! I am new to the board and just recently found out I have hep C. I have an appointment with the GI now that I finally have insurance to find out specifics. I was told while I was in the hospital for surgery the day I was being discharged and no one told me anything. I didn't even know there was chronic and acute! Now that I am educating myself I told my fiancé that I had it as well and he is incredibly supportive with everything and that I am being proactive in getting treatment. I know that it is transmitted through blood and not sex, but as a female, if I am having a female "cycle" and it Is the last day, could he contract the hep c virus just from having intercourse even though there is not blood to blood interaction?? I would appreciate any help with this....I know this sounds almost preschool because I just started educating myself, but please bear with me as I am on this forum to learn as much as I can. Thank you in advance
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Hi Bella,
I was just thinking about this. We tell everyone that since hep C is a blood-borne pathogen, then theoretically it can be passed via menstrual blood. However, we don't have good data on this. Pretty much everyone recommends taking reasonable precautions when exposed to menstrual blood, whether during sex, and when disposing of feminine products.
Good for you for asking these questions! Keep asking and learning.
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Thank you for clarifying, I was having some roadblocks when I was trying to research this as well! For the record its better to be safe than sorry so I told him he needs to come with me when I go for my appointment and make his as well so he can find out for sure. the only thing I question is the blood to blood, because there is only just the tip that essentially has the opening, im not sure if he could contract it from there? lol sorry to be graphic I just don't know how else to explain it :)
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I like your idea of including your fiance in appointments. The entire process of discovering you have hep C, and then keeping others safe, and learning what to do about it can be overwhelming. However, it gets easier - for you as well as for those around you. In my situation, although I felt quite sure that my husband and I were not engaging in sexual activities that were risky, I knew the decision about protection had to be his first. However, I was uncomfortable at various times and insisted upon taking extra precautions during that time of the month. Since vaginas don't have teeth, it is unlikely there would be blood-to-blood contact, but I just didn't want to risk it.
Now I am cured, and the relief I feel about not having a a virus that can infect others far exceeds the relief I feel about not having a virus chomping at my liver.