Sexually Transmitted Hep C

Hepatitis C is transmitted blood to blood, and although it is not listed as a sexually transmitted infection, we would like to point out that it can in fact be transmitted sexually if blood is present.

What is HCV?
HCV, also known as Hep C, is caused by a virus carried in blood. It attacks your liver. You might not have symptoms for many years. By that time the liver damage could be serious.

How is it transmitted?
The virus is passed by blood-to-blood contact. Even though you may not experience symptoms, you can still pass it on to other people.

You can get HCV from:
- Sharing needles, pipes, straws, cookers, filters, ties, or water for drug use with anyone, including your sexual partner.
- Piercing or tattooing equipment (including ink) already used on someone else.
- Anything that might have blood on it, like razors, nail clippers, and toothbrushes already used by someone else, even if you can’t see the blood.
- Unprotected sex with someone who has HCV

How can it be transmitted sexually?
Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange [CATIE] shared a study that pooled health information from Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom to look at sexually transmitted HCV in gay and bisexual men. It should be noted also that the men researched were also living with HIV. The information collected for the study suggested:

that HCV was transmitted through unprotected anal sex that damaged the lining of the rectum. This can occur in several circumstances, including these: having prolonged bouts of unprotected anal intercourse, having multiple episodes of unprotected anal sex, being fisted, having another sexually transmitted infection such as syphilis or LGV, or engaging in substance use (CATIE, 2009)

The study also mentions that substance use can dry out a person’s mucous membranes, which can cause the lining of the rectum to become damaged and bleed. Any damaged mucous membrane can facilitate the entry of HIV and HCV into a person’s body.

Although the study does not look at data specifically on women from these countries, women are still at risk for transmitting or contracting HCV if engaging in the same risk factors, and if menstruating.

For more on this article, please visit the CATIE website at: http://www.catie.ca/catienews.nsf/00a48c8905294f0b8525717f00661eb8/44b2fbfe8100795c852575cc0066c235%21OpenDocument

Testing
A person can have HCV for years without knowing it. It is important to get tested regularly if sexually active. Testing is available through a doctor’s office, or anonymous and confidential testing is available at:

Calgary Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic
Sheldon M. Chumir Centre
5th Floor, 1213 – 4th Street SW
Tel: (403) 955-6700

Safeworks
Sheldon M. Chumir Centre
Main Floor, 1213 – 4th Street SW
Tel: (403) 944-7075

For up-to-date information on Hepatitis C go to http://www.hepcinfo.ca/