I would get tested if I was you. My wife and daughters were all tested after I was diagnosed this year. Thank God there were all clear. I am no expert but I think the odds are very low for you to catch the HCV. But still if there is a chance.

Thank you. I will get tested. Glad the rest of your family were clear and they can be there 100% for you. Wish you all the best in your treatments.

I've had HEP C since 1969, five different unprotected relationships in that time. I found out in 1995. All five tested negative, including all my family members.
Below is a fact sheet copied from the Hepatitis Foundation


This factsheet was produced by the Hepatitis C Council of NSW and was last reviewed in May 2007
Hep C Helpline: 02 9332 1599 / 1800 803 990 Info: www.hepatitisc.org.au Online pPeer support: www.hepcaustralasia.org
The Hepatitis C Council of NSW Inc is a community-based, non-government organisation, funded by the NSW Health Dept.
Introduction
General transmission of HCV
HCV transmission during sex - is
it possible?
Sex & relationships
Safer sex and sexually
transmitted diseases
Further information
Hep C factsheets:
Does sexual transmission
occur?
Introduction
Although there is some uncertainty about hepatitis
(also called hep C) being transmitted sexually,
its not classified as an STI (sexually transmissible
infection). General scientific knowledge supports
this position.
Some people, unable to identify any other risk
factors, believe they may have contracted hep C
sexually. Additionally, some research suggests that
small percentage of people do contract hep C
through sexual contact. Thus, transmission of hep C
during sex is seen as possible but is believed to be
rare.
General transmission of HCV
Hep C is most commonly transmitted through
blood-to-blood contact, ie. when the blood of
someone with the virus enters the bloodstream of
someone else. This can occur through:
sharing needles or syringes or any other drug
injecting equipment, or
unsafe tattooing or body piercing.
Less common means are from mother to baby
at birth (vertical transmission), household
transmissions (eg. sharing razors and toothbrushes)
and occupational transmission (mainly through
needle-stick or sharps injuries).
HCV has been found in the breastmilk of mothers
who are hep C positive but breastmilk has not been
shown to transmit HCV. Breastfeeding is encouraged
unless a mothers nipples are cracked and/or
bleeding.
Before HCV tests were introduced in Australia (in
1990), some people received contaminated blood
transfusions or blood products. All blood donations
in Australia are now screened for hep C. The current
tests are so good that the risk of transmission
occurring this way is around one in 100,000
donations.
There is a slightly increased rate of hep C
transmission in people with multiple sexual partners
and high levels of sexual activity. Studies showing
this, though, have usually found it difficult to
exclude other possible routes of transmission, eg.
injecting drug use.
HCV transmission during sex - is it
possible?
If hep C is transmitted during sex, it is likely to be
through blood-to-blood contact. This emphasises the
need for safe sex practices where there is a risk of
blood-to-blood contact, eg. sex when you have cuts
or lesions on or close to the genitals, during anal sex
(because the anus lining is easily broken), during
menstruation and during sexual practices that may
This factsheet was produced by the Hepatitis C Council of NSW and was last reviewed in May 2007
Hep C Helpline: 02 9332 1599 / 1800 803 990 Info: www.hepatitisc.org.au Online pPeer support: www.hepcaustralasia.org
The Hepatitis C Council of NSW Inc is a community-based, non-government organisation, funded by the NSW Health Dept.
involve bleeding or broken skin.
Transmission of hep C through sexual body fluids
(rather than blood) is thought to be rare. It is
probably more likely to occur when the amount
of HCV circulating in the blood is high. This may
occur in the initial acute stage of infection or when
the immune system is suppressed (e.g. co-infection
with HIV). In such cases, though, the hep C negative
sexual partner would additionally require a break
in their skin to allow entry of hep C into their
bloodstream.
Research increasingly suggests the risk of sexual
transmission of hep C either through blood-to-blood
contact or sexual body fluids is minimal.
Sex & relationships
When one or both partners are hep C positive,
couples need to assess their sexual practices
to reduce the risk of blood-to-blood contact
during sex. People need to balance the desire for
unprotected sex against the very small risk of hep C
transmission.
It is currently believed that a decision to use safe
sex methods depends on the nature of the sexual
relationship:
With new or casual sexual partners, or any instances
where there may be blood-to-blood contact during
sex, safe sex practices should always be used to
protect against the wide range of STIs.
Within monogomous sexual relationships where
there is little risk of blood-to-blood contact, there is
no need to adopt safe sex practices just because one
partner is hep C positive.
Safe sex and sexually transmitted
diseases
All sexually active people should consider safe
sex because of the risk of contracting a sexually
transmissible infection. STIs include conditions
such as genital herpes, HIV, hepatitis B, gonorrhoea,
syphilis, chlamydia, crabs and genital warts.
If you have any condition that involves scratching,
sores or blisters (especially when these may come
into contact during sexual activity) the possibility of
blood-to-blood contact and transmission of STIs is
increased.
Further information
Disclosure (factsheet)
Discrimination (factsheet)
Hepatitis C: What you need to know (booklet)
Produced by the Hepatitis C Council of NSW
with assistance from NSW Health, Drs Ingrid
van Beek, Alex Wodak and Leena Gupta,
and Profs Geoff McCaughan, Geoff Farrell,
Michael Kidd, Sue Kippax and Bob Batey.

hi jujube, i have been w/ my husband for 5 yrs.when we met first met ,i made him get tested. it was negative. now i make him get tested every 2-3 yesrs and still negative.hope this helps....

I have just been diagnosed and was confused by this also - my OB informed me it's not an STD but then said to use condoms ......... so ~ on further digging for info I found that it is more likely to be transmitted if you partake in anal sex because the tissues breaks down easily and / or you have sex during your cycle, however your partner would have to have an "opening" such as a scratch or something. In addition if hands are used during foreplay while on your cycle - if there is a break in the skin such as hangnail it can be transmitted that way. Percentage is low but it is possible ..... as I was told. I'm going to ask my doctor on Saturday so I will share what I learn.

Thanks everyone. To clarify, when my doctor said I should get tested, I did challenge the idea that the virus could be transmitted during sex, UNLESS it was through broken tissues, such as would be present in anal sex, or other obvious contact. That was when she said, yes, that this was the theory but that new ways of contracting it were being found. I will also try to find out more from the doctors, since my husband has it, and I will share. Thank you all for your kind responses.

Okay,

The CDC and the NIH both state that sexual intercourse is a low risk for transmitting HCV, unless you're engaging in the kind of strenous sexual activity where blood can be drawn (e.g. S&M, B&D, anal/oral/vaginal sex where possible roughness tears skin or creates a wound where blood can be shared.)

That being said, when they began doing studien where couples living together for a long period of time, and their partner had HCV were tested, many cases showed their partner was not infected. Infections were found to show up more in relationships where the man or woman "strayed", but the more monogamus groups had a very low number.

My suggestion? Get Tested. If there's a chance of broken skin, there's a chance of transmission.

Still, if you're concerned, you should be tested, because even if sex is low risk, you have probably share a razor or two with him, or used a nail clipper that he has used,etc.

Though kissing is not a risk factor, you must be willing to use common sense. If he has gums that bleed regularly - after brushing, for instance - you don't don't want to kiss because evidence shows that the blood in the saliva is infected.

If he has a cut or open wound - even if it's not bleeding - have him use a bandage, just to be safe.

I'm sorry about the news, but you're in a good place to get information and support. And if you need to talk, feel free to call my office, toll-free 1.888.436.HEPC (4372)

You are not alone.

Hi jujube,
That was when she said, yes, that this was the theory but that new ways of contracting it were being found.

When your doctor said this you should have ask here to clarify new ways? I know I find myself making extra calls because I haven't at times ask due to the stress and so much to absorb. I know if I ask immediatly it saves me from obssesing and thinking the worst scenario when it may not be the case.

i know that igot hep c through sex with my wife. i was also told that you couldnt get it through sex. WRONG! it is easier for a male to get it from a female than female getting it from male. but always proctect yourself. i was blindsighted when my doctor said that i had to have got it from a transfusion or introvenious drug use. ive not done either of those. it was from m wife. i have no doubts. good luck......one love

My husband has Hep C and I do not. It's actually hard to catch according to my husband's doctor. Still, do not share razors, nail clipper, tooth brushes (yuck) etc. It is easier for a man to get Hep C thru intercourse from a woman who has Hep C than for a woman to catch it from a man . . . due to menstruation. I feel your pain, I got the call at work one day, "I've got Hep C and I may have given it to you!" I feel apart!

Hi, jujube. Just wanted to add to what you're already hearing. Please relax, but get tested. My husband was diagnosed in 2001, we've been together since '89 and I'm negative. I get tested every six months. We dont' share razors, he covers his cuts but we've never practiced safe sex although there's no anal sex (blush-stuff's hard to talk about for us old folk but this is not the time to be hung up). Ahem - I think if you just use common sense precautions like the ones others have outlined so well you'll be fine, dear. You're aware, you're asking questions, you're taking care of business . . what else can ya do? Take care! Love, Skeeter and the ole'man

I'm sorry to contradict you, but Hep C is not transmitted through menstrual blood, though I understand why many would think so.

I was writing and my browser blanked out before I could finish! Sorry about that.

Anyway, it has been advised that menstrual fluid be treated as "any other blood" and proper precautions be used, but there hasn't been any evidence to date to suggest that hep C can be transmitted through blood. This is one of those strange areas, because of the question of hep C, pregnancy and unborn children, as I'm sure you know about. If you want, I would be glad to do some research and bring it to the board.
My belief, however, is better safe than sorry.