Hello,
I'am a female intrested in a guy and was informed by him that he has Hepatitis C.... I have so many questions and concerns, I hope someone can help me out.
Oral Sex.
Can i get hepatitis C by giving him oral and swallowing his semen?
Can i get hepatitis, if he gave me oral sex? would it be in his saliva? if i was cut from shaving?
Kissing:
I have sensitive gums, when i brush my teeth i sometimes bleed, if an hour later we kiss, do i get hep c through his saliva?!?!?
thanks Hi hon. Hepatitis C is a blood born virus and is ONLY spread from blood to blood contact. It is NOT spread from saliva, semen, sweat, tears, vaginal secretions, or any other bodily fluid. The only way to contract Hep C is coming into contact with this man's blood. My mom got Hep C from a blood transfuision in the 1960's and has been married to my dad for 35 years and he has never contracted it. I got it from my mom when I was born and have been with my husband for 5 years and he has never contracted it. Just be careful around his blood and you will be fine. Don't share razors or toothbrushes and if he cuts himself, let him take care of it. People on here need to do some research before they answer questions especially when they know nothing of the topic. As long as you don't come in contact with his blood you are fine. The only way to get Hep C from any kind of sexual contact is if blood is involved. Good luck and this sounds like a good guy to me for being so forthright about his situation. Sounds like you have a "keeper". :) If you truly care about this guy, having Hep C is no reason for you to not be with him. If you have any other questions you can feel free to email me. Yes to all. Hep C is highly transmittable. You should get a Gamma Globulin shot asap or risk liver damage later. I admire him for telling you the truth, but find another guy. And DON'T have unprotected sex with anyone these days. need see Dr
Topic Overview
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. The virus lives in the liver cells and causes the liver to become inflamed. In time, hepatitis C can lead to permanent liver damage as well as cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.
Many people do not know that they have hepatitis C until they already have some liver damage, which can take many years. Immediately after a person is infected with hepatitis C, he or she enters an early, short-term (acute) stage of the disease. Some people with acute hepatitis C fight off the virus permanently and never have liver problems. However, up to 85% of people who are infected with the virus go on to develop long-term, or chronic, hepatitis C. 1 Although hepatitis C can be a very serious disease, many people lead active, full lives by managing the disease and taking good care of themselves.
What causes hepatitis C infection?
Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus can enter your body after you have been exposed to another person's infected blood.
Hepatitis C is spread from one person's blood to another person's blood. You cannot get hepatitis C from casual contact such as hugging, kissing, sneezing, coughing, or sharing food or water.
You can get hepatitis C if you:
Share needles and other equipment used to inject illegal drugs. This is the most common way to get hepatitis C in the United States.
Had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992. Starting in 1992, all donated blood and organs are screened for hepatitis C.
Have been exposed to unsafe practices for giving shots, such as reusing needles. This occurs in some developing countries.
Rarely, a mother with hepatitis C spreads the virus to her baby at birth, or a health care worker is accidentally exposed to blood that is infected with hepatitis C.
Experts are not sure whether you can get hepatitis C through sexual contact. If there is a risk of getting the virus through sexual contact, it is very small.
What are the symptoms?
There are two forms of hepatitis C. The first form is called acute hepatitis C, which means that you have a short-term infection. The second form is called chronic hepatitis C, which means that you have a more serious, long-term infection.
Most people go on to develop chronic hepatitis C but still do not have symptoms. This makes it common for people to have hepatitis C for 15 years or longer before it is diagnosed. Many people find out that they have the virus by accident, when donating blood or having a routine physical exam.
If you do develop symptoms, they may include:
Fatigue.
Joint pain.
Belly pain.
Itchy skin.
Sore muscles.
Dark urine.
Jaundice鈥攁 condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes look yellow.
How is hepatitis C diagnosed?
Hepatitis C is diagnosed from a review of your medical history, a physical exam, and blood tests. Often, people with hepatitis will have high levels of liver enzymes in their blood. If your doctor thinks you may have hepatitis C, he or she will talk to you about having a blood test to check for antibodies of the hepatitis C virus. If you have hepatitis C antibodies, you will also have a blood test that looks for the genetic material of the hepatitis C virus. While the antibody test indicates that you have been exposed to the virus in the past, the genetic test indicates that you are currently infected with the virus.
In most cases, a liver biopsy also is done to see whether the virus has caused scarring in your liver. During a liver biopsy, a doctor will insert a needle between your ribs to collect a small sample of liver tissue to be examined under a microscope.
Some people prefer to find out on their own whether they have been exposed to hepatitis C. You can buy a home test called a Home Access Hepatitis C Check kit, which you can find in most drugstores. If your test results show that you have been exposed to the virus in the past, it is important to discuss these results with your doctor and to find out whether you are currently infected with the virus.
How is it treated?
Hepatitis C may or may not be treated with medicines. When liver damage is mild, treatment often is not needed. Treatment also is not always an option because the medicines used to treat hepatitis C have significant side effects, and they are expensive. If you do take medicine, the best treatment is a combination of two medicines that fight infection: peginterferon and ribavirin.
How well these medicines work depends on how damaged your liver is, how much virus you have in your body, and what type of hepatitis C you have. There are six different types鈥攃alled genotypes鈥攐f hepatitis C. Genotype 1 is the most common type in the United States. Types 1, 2, and 3 are found worldwide; type 4 is found throughout northern Africa; type 5 is common in South Africa; and type 6 is common in Asia. Genotype 1 is harder to treat than genotypes 2 and 3.
An important part of treatment for hepatitis C is how well you take care of yourself. You can feel better and prevent further damage to your liver by exercising and eating healthy foods, as well as by avoiding alcohol, illegal drugs, and certain medicines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning about hepatitis C:
What is hepatitis C?
What causes hepatitis C?
Can I prevent hepatitis C?
What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?
What happens in hepatitis C?
What increases my risk for hepatitis C?
Who is affected by hepatitis C?
Being diagnosed:
How is hepatitis C diagnosed?
Who can diagnose hepatitis C?
What are liver tests for hepatitis C?
What is a hepatitis C antibody test?
What blood test can show whether I have active hepatitis C infection?
What is a liver biopsy?
Getting treatment:
How is hepatitis C treated?
Should I take antiviral medicines for hepatitis C?
What is combination antiviral treatment?
Ongoing concerns:
Will I need surgery?
Living with hepatitis C:
What can I do to treat hepatitis C at home?
End-of-life issues:
How can I prepare for end-of-life issues if needed?
Author: Colleen Cronin Medical Review: Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Steven L. Flamm, MD - Gastroenterology
Last Updated: September 28, 2005
漏 1995-2007, Healthwise, Incorporated, P.O. Box 1989, Boise, ID 83701. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. For more information, click here. Privacy Policy. How this information was developed.
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Search for Recipes Go Green Read Your Horoscope Get Tech Advice Care for Your Pet Find Kid Stuff the chances of getting it from kisssing, semen.saliva and such is very low. It is a blood born virus which is spread from blood to blood contact. So sharing razors, toothbrushes is very risky. i would advise you get a hep c test done . I admire his courage for telling you. The chances of Hepatitis C (HCV) being transmitted through sex are low, and there does not appear to be a risk with oral sex. HCV is a blood bourne pathogen, which means it is transmitted by blood to blood contact only. If your sexual practices include rough sex, or kinky sex in which there is blood exposure (using pins or needles, etc), then the risk of transmitting HCV is much higher than the 1-3% risk of stable, monogamous, heterosexual couples. I have facilitated a HCV support group for years, and we have many couples who have been together for years. Only one partner is infected. I have been married 11 years and my husband does not have HCV.
You have a higher chance of getting HCV through sharing his razor or toothbrush than if you have sex (that is, if you are monogamous and sex is not rough, etc, as I mentioned earlier).
The risk factors for transmitting HCV are:
blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before 1992, IV drug use even if one time many years ago,snorting drugs & sharing the straw or dollar bill, tattoos, piercings, being born to an HCV infected mother (5% chance of transmission), kidney dialysis, pneumatic vaccination given by the military (Vietnam Vet era), sharing toothbrushes or razors with someone who is infected (even if they don't know it yet), exposure to blood through your job (paramedics, nurses, doctors, phlebotomists, EMT's, etc), sexual contact if you have multiple partners, have risky or rough sex, or have sex with someone who is coinfected with HIV/HCV. Kissing is not a risk factor unless there is blood to blood contact. Check out the links below for more information. Hope this helps; best wishes. |
