Hep c questions,new to this

[NeverInTheRightOrder]

Hello.I would like to ask a few questions regarding to hepatits c and educate my self over an exposure I had 3 months ago.I would like to know if oral sex (recieving and giving) can spread hep c.There are so much conflicting information about that on the internet,I am confused.I also want to know if 12 weeks is a good time to test for anti-hcv and have a conclusive resault.In the last couple of days I have developed some flue like symptoms,can acute hep c symptoms last only 3-4 days? In the end I would like to ask (I am sorry if this is a silly question but I am really scared about this),is there a possibillity that she was menstruating but I could not notice it? I mean could she had blood on her secrations able to infect but not visible in the eye?Thank you much for your help! I am very glad I found a place that I can express my fears!

[iana5252]

Hi NeverInTheRightOrder,

Welcome to the Hep Forums. We are glad you found us.

Lets start with the transmission question.

"Unlike human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, it is generally believed that HCV cannot be transmitted through semen or other genital fluids, unless blood is present. Thus, the risk of becoming infected with HCV through unprotected sexual intercourse is low—but it is still possible. As a result, experts recommend that people infected with HCV practice safer sex using a protective barrier (e.g., condoms), especially during intercourse, as a precaution for their partners."

For more on risk transmission, please visit our Hep Lesson Hepatitis C: The Basics : Who is at risk and how is it transmitted?

http://www.hepmag.com/articles/2512_18750.shtml

[NeverInTheRightOrder]

Thank you so much for your reply! So unless there is blood invovled thete is very low chance that someone can get hep C.What about the window period? is 12 weeks negative conclusive? And what about symptoms? is there chance that they last for only 3-4 days?And again,i feel a little silly about this question but is what scared me the most,can she menstruating with no obvious blood but still there able to infect me?I really apreciate the help.

[lporterrn]

Hep C is rarely passed sexually, and cannot survive the digestive system, so orally, even with blood, is an unlikely route. Sexually with no obvious signs of blood, but with hidden blood, still very low risk (unless you have HIV, open sores, herpes, etc)  12 weeks is a pretty solid amount of time, but 6 months is conclusive.

[NeverInTheRightOrder]

Thank you very much for your answer! My fear was oral sex becaouse I never had unprotected sex in my life,I have never used drugs or had a tattoo or piercing,so uprotected oral sex is my only possible exposure to hcv.I did have 12 weeks negative test so I can think that this is encouraging.I never noticed any blood during giving or recieving oral sex so I guess this still remains a low risk situation.Do you think that a pcr test at 14-15 weeks would be conclusive? Again thank you so much for your reply.

[lporterrn]

A PCR test is conclusive after 2 weeks, so 14-15 weeks is definitely conclusive

[NeverInTheRightOrder]

That is very good news! Although considering my exposure a pcr might not be necessery,regarding the very low to zero risk of oral sex but if I catch my self worrying and thinking about it excessively,eventually I will have to take a pcr test and not wait till the 6 month.In any case thank you very much for your help and for taking time to reply

[scaredwife]

I also am new to the forum. Iam so confused on all the literature on hep c. My husband has just been diagnosed and all they said was he has advanced hep c  with some cirrhosis from results of a cat scan. We have an appointment with gi specialist.  But not really knowing whats next or what to ask.

[Mike]

@ Scaredwife,

I would encourage you to ask about the current treatments available. There's been some really amazing breakthroughs in the last 12 months with more to come at the end of this year and in to 2015. If you read treatment options from even 2 years ago, they wont discuss the current breakthroughs and cure rates.

The basic things you want to know from the GI are: How well is the liver functioning?  You will also want to know the viral load and the genotype - which is used to help make treatment decision.

I would encourage you to also be supportive of your husband. Hep-C is scary, which I think you know; but more so for the person with the virus. Lots of emotions, fears of the unknown, embarrassment, why me and so on.

There are lots of good treatments available that don't carry the side effects of the treatments of yesterday.

Lucinda has posted a lot of great information about current treatments and this site is a great resource.

It sounds like the GI has the bases covered and the next step is probably to decide about treatment/treatment options.

I'm currently being treated for the second time (the first time was in 2001) when the treatment really sucked and the chance of a cure was low.

Now, the treatment is a lot more tolerable and the results are amazing. I'll be done in 5 weeks.

Lastly, I would tell you to hang in there and be positive. You've found a great forum here with a lot of folks going through this.

Best wishes and tell your husband he's not alone and there is really a lot of hope now with the new treatments - and it will only get better, Mike

[NeverInTheRightOrder]

I wish to you and your husband the best! Dont give up,recentely I was reading in onother forum that someone who was hep c for years and he ''looks like he made it'' according to his post! As he said he followed treatment a couple of times an finally did it! I dont really undersant the most of those meanings couse I new to this topic but his story really moved me.So dont ever give up becaouse giving up is the only way to loose for granded! Take care