What Are The Chances of Getting Hep C Sexually?

Risk factors for acquiring hepatitis C during sexual intercourse

People who get hepatitis C during sexual intercourse is not the majority, but studies have shown that they share certain traits. The most critical risk factor is being HIV positive or having a disease that affects our immune system. Additional risk factors have been studied as well, but mostly in HIV-positive patients. These risk factors are as follows:

• High-risk sexual behavior: This includes unprotected sex, especially anal intercourse, sexual toy sharing, group sex, unprotected fisting, and chemsex. They all increase the chance of acquiring hepatitis C via sexual activity by increasing our contact with blood, multiple sexual partners, and other conditions.
• Other sexually transmitted diseases: According to studies, other sexually-transmitted conditions may also increase the risk. HIV is an obvious association discussed above, but we’re talking about other non-HIV infections such as herpes, gonorrhea, and others. One of the most important sexually transmitted diseases that increase the risk of passing down hepatitis C is Herpes Simplex Virus type 2.
• Bleeding: In most cases, it is rectal bleeding, but it can be genital bleeding as well. Patients and healthy individuals with an active bleeding episode share a higher chance of hepatitis C transmission.