The sexual transmission route in hepatitis C | Hepatitis C Causes and Treatmen

The sexual transmission route in hepatitis C

The sexual transmission route plays a rather minor role in hepatitis C compared to hepatitis B and HIV. This transmission pathway is very rare, but is favored by open sores on the external or internal genitals, such as hemorrhoids and genital warts. However, the risk of injury and infection is further increased by anal sex, “fisting” and shared sex toys. Kissing and oral sex, on the other hand, with healthy skin and mucous membranes, has a very low risk of transmission of the hepatitis C virus.

Is transfer by kissing or saliva exchange possible?

The hepatitis C virus is transmitted very rarely through sexual contact and usually only when there are open wounds. On the other hand, the exchange of saliva during kissing and oral sex in healthy skin and mucous membranes carries a much lower risk of virus transmission and is therefore almost negligible. In general, sexual intercourse is a rather disorderly transmission risk in hepatitis C infection. Kissing and other oral sex practices are among the even less dangerous transmission routes in this group. It plays almost no relevance.

Risk of infection through blood contact and blood transfusions?

The transmission of hepatitis C via blood contact poses a great risk of virus transmission. The majority of hepatitis C transmission routes occur via blood contact. Split needles among drug addicts or contaminated tattoo needles are very often responsible for infection.Needlestick injuries, for example to hospital staff or blood transfusions, are however less dangerous in this group.

For example, the probability of infection through a contaminated needle in hospital is less than one percent and the probability of infection through a blood transfusion has been 1:5 million in Germany since the testing began in 1992. Drug addiction and the often associated shared benefit of a needle are by far the greatest risk of hepatitis C infection. This so-called “needle sharing” ensures a relatively high level of infestation.

About 90% of drug addicts who consume substances via the vein become infected with the virus. The infection with hepatitis C occurs because infected blood from the previous user is still on the needle and can thus enter the body of the new user. Needles that are used for tattooing or piercing have a high risk of infection. If a high level of hygiene in this context is not ensured, for example, by not sterilizing the needles after use, a significant risk of infection from contaminated tattoo needles. If the desire for a tattoo exists, it should be paid attention to select a studio that is clean and maintains a high level of hygiene.