Some people find that they feel differently about themselves sexually when they discover they have hepatitis C.
Although hepatitis C is not considered a sexually transmitted infection, it is a blood-borne virus that can, in some specific instances, be transmitted during sexual activity.
You may have concerns about transmission of the virus through sexual intercourse either now or in the past. While there is a risk, it is small and taking responsibility may require some new ways of thinking and some adjustments to your sexual behaviour. This means having protected sex and being aware that the presence of blood and/or cuts or sores increases the risk of transmission. To read the results of a trial on sexual transmission of hepatitis C click here
Decisions about whether to tell a sexual partner is a very personal thing and, undoubtedly not one that only concerns the risk of transmission. If you are in a supportive partnership, telling your partner about your diagnosis may not have a negative impact on the relationship. Yet the reality is that some partners will find the news difficult to deal with. It is important that any sexual partner you do decide to tell has accurate information about sexual transmission, either direct from you or from a source or person they trust. Decisions relating to past sexual partners may be much more difficult to make. You may find it useful to consider whether they are likely to have been exposed to a risk.
Some things you may want to think about include:
- when you suspect you became infected
- how often you had unprotected sex
- whether either partner had a sexually transmitted infection during that time as this increases the risk
- whether it is likely that blood may have been present.
