Hepatitus C

[Vespertine]

"Can HCV be spread by oral sex?
There is no evidence that HCV has been spread by oral sex"

I found this question & answer on the CDC's website.

You can check out their website here.

[magnum]

Originally Posted by twoforfun

We are new to swinging and had some threesomes with a woman approx 3 months ago. This person recently informed me she is Hep C pos-she states it can not be contacted through sex, however the research I have seen states it can be carried in body fluids not just blood. I do know in hospitals they use total body fluid precautions with a person with Hep C. We went for our test today to make sure we are healthy, must wait for results. My spouse and I are extremely upset with this person as she's been a carrier for years and has been swinging a few years. Our question is-Does she have the right to swing without telling the people involved, as she has been with most couples in our circle of friends(however-has not disclosed this to them). I definately do not want to swing with this person or have her sleeping with my friends-however unsure how to handle the situation as she has been with the group longer than us, and is afraid no one will play with her.
Should we tell others? If I had known i would not have played with her. This has caused alot of fear and anxiety and I feel she is being selfish and morally wrong not to disclose this info. Also she has played with a lot of couples-and not always with a condom. Does anyone know how contagious this is, Can it be caught through sexual contact, and what should we do. We have other couples who want to play with us but I am leary to do so as I know they have been with this person. HELP? ADVICE?

I think you should say some thing to your swinging "circle" of freinds, it is not right for her to assume she can not pass it to someone else and not say something.

I have had my hepititus C shots, "well worth it".

I was under the impression that HEP C is passed through body fluids not just blood.

I would recommend to all swingers to get your Hepititus C shots, it will give you that much more peace of mind and security.

Good luck with your test results.

Magnum

[Nicknasal]

We are a new couple to this lifestyle. In fact so new that we have yet to have our fantasy fulfilled by being with others. We did come very close and found a fantastic couple that would have been a great match but due to our honesty, of which I do not regret, it is not going to happen. We both (husband and wife) have Hep C due to blood transfusions during surgeries prior to 1990. Since 1990 all blood is checked for Hep C but prior to that there was very little known about it. It is because of this that an extremely large portion of the population has Hep C and in truth if you are not new to this lifestyle you probably have had sex with someone who has it or you yourself might have it and not even know. It is not a disease that shows itself until very late in the disease's progress, most likely by the time the patient is in their 70's. This does not in any way make the disease any less a threat. Being a person that carries the disease and had for a good 20 years prior to knowing that I had the disease I try to be as careful as possible for my health as well as those around me. Most people believe that this is a disease that is contracted through drug use (IV) or "unclean living". Although it can be contracted through IV drug use or any type of blood play where the conditions are not subject to a clean, safe, and sterile environment, it can also be contracted through surgical blood transfusions where the patient although trusting in the health care environment has a successful surgery with an added bonus of a potentially life threatening disease as is our case. However, this is the same case for millions of people around the world who quite possibly for the most part are still unaware that they even have the disease. The only way that we found out was coincidentally through a life insurance exam for increased life insurance. Not that we were tested for Hep C but the disease had affected my wife's blood so that it was showing unusual levels and until a more thorough exam the insurance would not be granted. After we had a more thorough exam it was discovered that she had Hep C. Let me add that I as well have Hep C and was tested exactly the same but passed and did receive my insurance. We did test the entire family (2 children) and it was determined that my wife and I are positive but our children are not and since I had a surgery with a transfusion in 1975 it was determined that I contracted the disease through tainted blood I received during that transfusion. Our life has been completely normal but with reduced alcohol usage and we are a bit more careful whenever we cut ourselves and we are very open and honest about our having Hep C so that other's can make their own decision. After all what we do with our own life is our business but how we affect other's is not so such is the reason for our sorrow in losing our opportunity at enjoying this lifestyle with a really wonderful couple. Let me add however, there are many misconceptions about Hep C and sexual activity so please for those of us who have Hep C and for all those who have Hep C and don't even know it (perhaps yourself) please do some research or ask a physician so that you are not closing off the possibility of an enjoyable time just because. Yes we would like very much to enjoy the company of other's in our sex play and especially in a role-play environment but in as much as we want it we do believe that overall honesty is the best policy for all concerned. We were very concerned about sexual transmission of the disease and to that end we have researched and found as well as been told by medical professionals that there has never been any account of Hep C being transferred solely through sexual activity. Please read what you are reading and when it says that the risk factor is very low understand that the risk factor would never be "non existent" just as the risk factor would never be "non existent" for any disease if you have sex with multiple partners. Very low is as good as it gets which is to say that the chances of contracting Hep C through sexual activity is virtually non existent but since it is present then the risk is “very low” but not non existent even though no one has ever contracted the disease solely from sexual activity. In other words there is no evidence that Hep C can be contracted through sexual activity but to say it could never happen is to not leave that .0000001% of a chance that it could only because it is there. As is stated in the CDC information that if you are having a monogamous relationship then you are most likely safe but if you are having sex with multiple partners then you might not be safe and should use condoms. Of course my question is why is it safe with one person and not with two? Sounds like that old tried and true tactic of sex morals control where sex should only be done when married and with one person of the opposite sex only and anything else is considered potentially unsafe. The thing is that no one has ever seen this disease contracted solely through sexual activity but it is when we take off our clothes and share our bodies, well, any thing is more of a risk and as such any documentation on Hep C will state that the risk factor is very low but to err on the side of safety. Please for all of us who have Hep C and for those who have it and don't know take a look at the entire picture. Look at the lifestyle of prospective intimate partners to see that they don't do IV drugs or have a lifestyle that supports an entire host of diseases. All I ask is to please don’t count us or others out immediately for intimate get togethers. It is ultimately up to you to make your own decision and you must feel comfortable in that decision just please make a well informed decision and one in which you would want done for you as you will do to another. HCV is not the same as HIV. It is a "blood borne" disease and one in which there has been no documentation of anyone contracting the disease through sexual activity unless there was a more dangerous disease such as HIV that the disease piggybacked on during transmission. If this is the case then by all means you should have known that the person had HIV so the incidence of Hep C would not have been the main concern anyway. I do believe fully that any risk no matter how small should be divulged and all those concerned be honest with one another even if it means that the result will be no sex. So we will continue to inform others that we meet and wish to have sex with. Perhaps we will never find any other couples that will feel comfortable in having sex with us but it is better to be naked with nothing to hide. In truth it would probably be more dangerous to have sex with others if someone had a sore throat or cold that could develop into pneumonia or some other potentially life disabling illness. But such is our dilemma and ever will be so long as sex with multiple partners and partners of possibly the same sex is associated with something ungodly and thus always open to life threatening diseases even when the same diseases with a monogamous lifestyle seems to be safe. Please be honest and informed and open to those that because of the sexual lifestyle society has determined to be untouchable.