All you need to know about HIV

[ironmaiden2015]

Originally Posted by Big Sexy

if there was no condom tear and the condom was intact.. i dont think there is a need for u to do a check after every sexual encounter...

however nothing beats a peace of mind , so go for a check if it makes u sleep better...

to addon .... runny nose after 4 weeks of sex with FL isnt a symptom that u have HIV.
more of a symptom of u being paranoid.

Thanks for the comforting message.. appreciate that..

[Acegik]

Originally Posted by ironmaiden2015

Thanks for the comforting message.. appreciate that..

Up 3 aces

[ahgore]

Anyone know the hiv stats for this year?

Theres a drop in 2016 from 2015. Not sure if the number is continuing dropping.

[ProSmashers]

A query here.

If your other fl partner has just tested negative for hiv and you proceed to have unprotected sex with her afterwards.

What are the chances of getting infected with hiv if she has carried out unprotected sex with another partner during the 1 month period (incubation)?

Assuming that other partner is hiv positive.

[Big Sexy]

are u saying she has sex with HIV positive guy during the window period before the test? if so then the result wont be accurate and you will be at risk..

if she only has sex with the other guy after testing you. then what is there for u to worry?

however do note that athough test done using the 4th gen hiv test at a month is pretty accurate, it will be good to do another test at 3 month from exposure..

Originally Posted by ProSmashers

A query here.

If your other fl partner has just tested negative for hiv and you proceed to have unprotected sex with her afterwards.

What are the chances of getting infected with hiv if she has carried out unprotected sex with another partner during the 1 month period (incubation)?

Assuming that other partner is hiv positive.

[sammyboyfor]

Originally Posted by ProSmashers

A query here.

If your other fl partner has just tested negative for hiv and you proceed to have unprotected sex with her afterwards.

What are the chances of getting infected with hiv if she has carried out unprotected sex with another partner during the 1 month period (incubation)?

Assuming that other partner is hiv positive.

There is no way to quantify the odds because so many factors come into play.

However it boils down to two scenarios :

1. She has NOT caught HIV from another partner. If that is the case then the probability of you catching HIV is zero.

2. She HAS caught HIV from her other infected partner. If that is the case then there is definitely a chance that you have caught it from her.

However to quantify the probability is difficult. There are various factors that increase the risk. Read this excellent article regarding putting a number to the probability.

http://www.catie.ca/en/pif/summer-20...k-exposure-hiv

This para is probably the most relevant based upon the way you phrased your question :

Vaginal sex

A meta-analysis of 10 studies exploring the risk of transmission through vaginal sex was published in 2009.4 It estimated the risk of HIV transmission through receptive vaginal sex (receiving the penis in the vagina) to be 0.08% (equivalent to 1 transmission per 1,250 exposures).

A meta-analysis of three studies exploring the risk from insertive vaginal sex (inserting the penis into the vagina) was estimated to be 0.04% (equivalent to 1 transmission per 2,500 exposures).4

As you can see the chances aren't exactly high but then again they are not zero.

However the article also mentions that during the acute phase of HIV infection ie the first few weeks after exposure the risk can increase many fold :

We also know that for every 10-fold increase in viral load, the risk of HIV transmission increases by 2 to 3 times.9,10 Research suggests the extremely high viral load during acute HIV infection (the first few weeks after becoming infected with HIV) can increase the risk of HIV transmission by up to 26-fold.11,12 Therefore, unprotected sex with an HIV-positive person who has acute HIV infection could carry a transmission risk of up to 2% (the equivalent of 1 transmission per 50 exposures) for receptive vaginal sex and over 20% (equivalent to 1 transmission per 5 exposures) for receptive anal sex.

The bottom line is that no matter what the odds you need to get yourself tested in order to know. The result is always very simple... you are either infected or you are not. There are no in betweens.

[kherro]

Hi, i had unprotected sex with a FL booked through those pimp advertising on sammy boy once. That was in nov last year and i had protected sex in Jan in BKK. I booked gals in BKK and the manager says her gals does checks every month. But isit the same for those that comes to SG? I haven had any syndromes so far, but gg to get my annual health check next mth and I believe they will do my blood test right?

[Big Sexy]

you need to know that there is always risk having unprotected sex with a stranger and many std can be asymptomatic...

the standard annual health check in sg wont cover all std... from what i know it only covers Syphilis .. you will need to inform the GP if u want a more comprehensive check ..

Originally Posted by kherro

Hi, i had unprotected sex with a FL booked through those pimp advertising on sammy boy once. That was in nov last year and i had protected sex in Jan in BKK. I booked gals in BKK and the manager says her gals does checks every month. But isit the same for those that comes to SG? I haven had any syndromes so far, but gg to get my annual health check next mth and I believe they will do my blood test right?

[sammyboyfor]

Originally Posted by kherro

Hi, i had unprotected sex with a FL booked through those pimp advertising on sammy boy once. That was in nov last year and i had protected sex in Jan in BKK. I booked gals in BKK and the manager says her gals does checks every month. But isit the same for those that comes to SG? I haven had any syndromes so far, but gg to get my annual health check next mth and I believe they will do my blood test right?

You'd be very naive to believe anything a pimp says regarding his products and even if it was true the FL can easily pick up a deadly disease in between health checks and pass it on to her customers. If your session was unprotected the risk is even higher.

Many STDs have no obvious symptoms so the fact that you have not seen or felt anything unusual does not mean you have not caught anything.

Standard health checks do NOT screen for STDs. You need to go to a health professional that specialises in STD screening. eg http://www.drtanandpartners.com/home...ing-treatment/

Of particular concern nowadays is a rise in the number of cases of treatment resistant Gonorrhea so to fuck a whore without protection is an extremely foohardy act.

If you escape unscathed this time round I hope you don't repeat such a reckless act.

[kherro]

Originally Posted by sammyboyfor

You'd be very naive to believe anything a pimp says regarding his products and even if it was true the FL can easily pick up a deadly disease in between health checks and pass it on to her customers. If your session was unprotected the risk is even higher.

Many STDs have no obvious symptoms so the fact that you have not seen or felt anything unusual does not mean you have not caught anything.

Standard health checks do NOT screen for STDs. You need to go to a health professional that specialises in STD screening. eg http://www.drtanandpartners.com/home...ing-treatment/

Of particular concern nowadays is a rise in the number of cases of treatment resistant Gonorrhea so to fuck a whore without protection is an extremely foohardy act.

If you escape unscathed this time round I hope you don't repeat such a reckless act.

Yes I do know I make a folly mistake by not using protection with that FL. I’m gg to get tested later.

[Big Sexy]

265 new cases of HIV reported between Jan and Oct: MOH
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...eases-10987408

SINGAPORE: A total of 265 new cases of HIV infection were reported among Singapore citizens and permanent residents in the first 10 months of this year, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday (Dec 1).

Of these, MOH analysed 156 cases between January and June, and found that 90 per cent of those infected were male.

Nearly half (46 per cent) were between the ages of 40 and 59, while 40 per cent were aged between 20 and 39.

About 53 per cent had last-stage HIV infection when they were diagnosed, said MOH, which is an increase from the 42 per cent for the same period last year.

In the media release, MOH said sexual intercourse accounted for all of the known exposures.

The ministry noted that 45 per cent of all cases were from heterosexual transmission, 43 per cent were from homosexual transmission and 12 per cent were from bisexual transmission.

AT RISK GROUPS URGED TO GO FOR REGULAR TESTING

Of the newly reported cases, about 57 per cent were detected by HIV tests conducted during medical care, said MOH.

"Another 22 per cent were detected during routine programmatic HIV screening, while 17 per cent were detected through self-initiated HIV screening," added the ministry.

The rest were detected through other types of screening such as medical check-ups for employment or insurance.

MOH said a higher proportion of homosexuals or bisexuals (25 per cent) had their infection detected via volunteer screening compared to heterosexuals (9 per cent).

The ministry urged individuals at risk of HIV infection to go for regular HIV testing as it can help diagnose an infected person at an early stage.

"Early diagnosis allows for early treatment and care, and provides the opportunity for those infected to learn about protecting their partners from infection," said MOH.

"With early and effective treatment, persons living with HIV can delay the onset of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) for many years and continue to lead an active and productive life."

MOH said the most effective way to prevent HIV infection was to remain faithful to one's spouse or partner, as well as to avoid sex with sex workers.

Those who engage in high-risk sexual behavior, such as having multiple sexual partners or engaging in casual or commercial sex, are strongly advised to use condoms to reduce their risk of HIV infection or other sexually transmitted infections, said the ministry.

[Big Sexy]

HIV and AIDS: Transmission myths and facts
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323832.php

Innovations in testing and treatment have greatly reduced the risk of contracting HIV and helped those with HIV live long and healthy lives.

In this article, we look at some common misconceptions about HIV transmission. It is vital to remember that undergoing HIV treatment makes it very unlikely that a person will transmit the virus to somebody else.

If a person suspects that they could have the virus or have risk factors, they may wish to talk to their doctor about testing.

Myth 1: A person can contract HIV from touching someone who has it

Fact: People cannot transmit or contract HIV simply by touching.

Shaking hands, hugging, high-fiving, or other types of physical contact will not transmit the virus.

A person can only contract the virus if they come into contact with the following fluids from a person who already has HIV:

blood
breast milk
pre-seminal
rectal
semen
vaginal
These fluids must come into contact with another person's mucous membranes, such as in or on their rectum, vagina, penis, or mouth, for a person to be at risk of contracting HIV.

Transmission can also occur via broken skin or by using infected needles.

Myth 2: A person can contract HIV from infected insects and animals
Fact: Some people believe that they can contract HIV from infected insects. While insects can transmit some illnesses, HIV is not one of them.

To transmit HIV, a mosquito or another insect would have to bite a person with HIV, then inject the blood back into another person's body.

Insects do not re-inject old blood into a new person, so it is impossible for them to transmit HIV.

While other forms of the disease, such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), do exist, HIV only affects humans. Likewise, humans cannot contract FIV, which affects cats, or other immunodeficiency viruses in animals.

Myth 3: A person can contract HIV from infected water
Fact: HIV cannot survive in water. As a result, a person cannot contract the virus from swimming, drinking, bathing, or other activities involving water.

Also, a person cannot contract HIV from the saliva, sweat, or tears of a person with HIV, providing these water-based components do not have blood in them.

Myth 4: If a couple has HIV, they do not need to protect themselves
Fact: Different strains of HIV exist. Therefore, if a person and their partner have two different strains of HIV, they can transmit these to each other.

Having more than one strain of HIV can make treating it more challenging, as medications target specific strains to prevent them from replicating.

Also, a person can still transmit and contract sexually transmitted infections from sex without a condom.

Using a condom or another form of barrier protection during sex and taking antiretroviral medications to prevent HIV transmission are vital. This is the case even if both partners already have HIV.

Myth 5: Blood transfusions raise the risk of HIV

Fact: Doctors in the United States and many other developed regions rigorously test the blood supply for a variety of blood-related conditions, including HIV.

Banked blood that is available for transfusion does not contain HIV. A person also cannot contract HIV from organ and tissue donations, as these have also undergone testing.

When scientists were first identifying HIV, they recognized the symptoms of the condition but did not know what virus caused it. As a result, they did not test donated blood for HIV.

Now, however, blood bank officials test donated blood to ensure that no viruses are present.

Myth 6: A person cannot contract HIV from oral sex or deep-mouth kissing

Fact: Doctors consider HIV transmission via open-mouth kissing (French kissing) and oral sex rare but possible.

During oral sex, placing the mouth on the penis, vagina, or anus can potentially expose a person to infected fluids that could enter mucus membranes in the mouth.

While the risk of contracting HIV as a result of oral sex is low, a person can still take steps to protect themselves if their partner is has HIV.

To prevent transmission, doctors recommend monogamous sex with a partner who is taking antiretroviral therapy consistently. Antiretroviral therapy can reduce a person's viral levels so that HIV is untransmittable.

Another rare mode of transmission is deep, open-mouth kissing. A person cannot contract HIV from kissing someone on the cheeks or even on the lips.

However, if kissing with an open mouth exposes them to sores or bleeding gums from a person with HIV, they could contract the virus.

It is essential to note that HIV is not transmitted through the saliva but through blood in a person's mouth.

Myth 7: A person cannot contract HIV from an old needle

Fact: HIV can survive in a needle for up to 42 days. There is no safe way to share needles.

A person should use new a needle each time they inject themselves with prescription or recreational drugs. They should also ensure that a tattooist uses fresh needles before getting a tattoo.

Summary
People cannot transmit AIDS, but they can transmit HIV. There are many treatments available to help prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS.

Anyone concerned that they may have HIV or face exposure to the virus may wish to speak to a doctor about testing.

By dispelling myths about HIV and AIDS, more people can seek diagnosis and treatment earlier and lead long, healthy lives.

[Big Sexy]

Why you cannot get HIV from kissing
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323847.php

A person can transmit HIV through blood, semen, and breast milk. However, HIV cannot survive in saliva, so there is no risk of contracting HIV through kissing.
HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system, which can leave the body vulnerable to infections and diseases.

A person can transmit HIV through certain bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, and breast milk. HIV cannot survive in other body fluids, such as saliva, tears, or sweat unless blood containing HIV is also present.

This means that people are not at risk of contracting the virus if they kiss someone who has HIV.

This article will debunk the myth that people can contract HIV through kissing. We also discuss how HIV is and is not transmitted.

Can a person transmit HIV through kissing?

A person cannot transmit HIV through kissing because the virus is not present in saliva.

HIV can enter the body through damaged areas in the mucous membranes lining the vagina and the rectum. The mouth also contains mucous membranes, but they do not contain cells that are vulnerable to HIV, such as those present in the vagina and rectum.

Saliva contains several proteins and enzymes that serve many different functions, such as beginning the digestion process, assisting in mouth lubrication, and even fighting off germs.

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is an enzyme present in saliva, mucus, and seminal fluid. SLPI prevents HIV from infecting monocytes and T cells, which are types of white blood cell and part of the immune system.

Saliva contains much higher concentrations of SLPI than vaginal and rectal fluids. This may explain why HIV is mostly present in body fluids other than saliva.

Kissing a person living with HIV will not put someone at risk of contracting HIV. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a person cannot transmit HIV through saliva or closed-mouth kissing.

However, the CDC also state that in extremely rare cases, a person can transmit HIV through "deep, open-mouth kissing if both partners have sores or bleeding gums and blood from the HIV-positive partner gets into the bloodstream of the HIV-negative partner."

How HIV is transmitted
The only way a person can contract HIV is through direct contact with body fluids that contain HIV. Body fluids that contain HIV can include:

blood
semen
pre-seminal fluid
rectal fluids
vaginal fluids
breast milk
Below, we discuss the primary modes of HIV transmission:

Sexual transmission

HIV transmission can occur during anal or vaginal sex without the use of a condom. There have been cases of HIV transmission through oral sex but the risk of this extremely low.

HIV transmission during sex occurs when body fluids containing HIV come into direct contact with mucous membranes or damaged tissue. Anal sex has a higher risk of HIV transmission than vaginal sex because the tissues that line the anus are more prone to damage and bleeding.

It is important to note that effective HIV treatment can reduce a person's viral load to undetectable levels. This means that people who are taking HIV medications correctly and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV through sex.

Needles

A person can contract HIV through using needles or syringes in which HIV is present. According to the CDC, HIV can live in a used needle for up to 42 days. This is why it is best to avoid sharing needles with anyone.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

A woman can pass on HIV to a fetus during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. However, HIV treatment significantly lowers the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mother-to-child transmission rates range from 15 to 45 percent in the absence of any intervention. However, effective HIV treatment during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breastfeeding can reduce the risk of transmission to less than 5 percent.

How HIV is not transmitted

HIV cannot survive long outside of the human body. This means that people cannot contract HIV from touching objects or surfaces that a person living with HIV handles.

Nor can someone transmit HIV through holding hands, hugging, or touching other people. It is important to remember that HIV transmission requires an exchange of body fluids that contain HIV.

HIV transmission can also not occur through:

air or water
mosquitoes, ticks, or other insects
saliva, tears, or sweat, unless they also contain blood from a person living with HIV
scratching, biting
casual contact, such as hugging, shaking hands, or kissing
mutual masturbation
sharing food or drinks
sharing toilet seats, dishes, or other objects
There are no known cases of anyone contracting HIV from a tattoo or body piercings. However, it is possible to contract HIV from a reused needle or improperly sanitized equipment.

Takeaway
Many unfounded myths surround the transmission of HIV. However, a person can only transmit HIV through certain body fluids that contain HIV, such as blood, semen, and breast milk.

HIV cannot survive outside the body and is not present in other body fluids such as saliva, tears, or sweat. This means that a person cannot contract HIV through kissing, touching, hugging, or sharing toilet seats, foods, or drinks with someone living with HIV.

The primary mode of HIV transmission is through vaginal or anal sex without a condom. However, people who are taking HIV medications correctly and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV through sex.

[Big Sexy]

What is an HIV viral load?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323851.php

Viral load refers to the amount of HIV in a person's blood. HIV treatments aim to reduce the viral load until the virus is no longer detectable, which mean it is also untransmittable.
In this article, we discuss what viral load means for people living with HIV and their partners, the links between viral load and CD4 levels, and how doctors test and monitor these levels.

What is HIV viral load?

Doctors define the viral load as the number of HIV copies in a milliliter of blood (copies/ml).

Doctors initially use the viral load to check the status of HIV after diagnosis, then to monitor the success of HIV treatments.

When a person contracts HIV the virus replicates in their blood. The more copies of the virus there are, the higher a person's viral load.

If there is a high number of copies in the blood, this suggests that there is also a high number in other bodily fluids, such as vaginal fluid and semen.

The main aim of HIV treatments is to reduce the viral load to the point where there are so few copies of the virus left that it is undetectable in the blood.

Before treatment: Detectable viral load
When doctors say a person has detectable levels of HIV in a viral load test, it means there is a significant amount of HIV in their blood. This level will vary based on the stage of the condition and the stage of treatment.

On first diagnosis of HIV, a person's viral load is typically high. Shortly after contracting HIV, the viral load will drop as the immune system starts to fight the virus.

Without treatment, the viral load will rise again as the virus starts to destroy specific immune system cells known as CD4 cells.

After treatment: Undetectable viral load
Antiretroviral therapy aims to reduce a person's viral load to undetectable levels. This is known as viral suppression.

After starting antiretroviral therapy, a person's HIV viral load tests will come back with low numbers. When this occurs, the treatment is working, and HIV is no longer progressing. With a lower viral load, the chances of transmitting the virus to others become lower.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an undetectable viral load means less than 200 copies/ml.

An undetectable viral load means that a person has effectively zero risk of sexually transmitting the virus to an HIV-negative partner.

Large-scale research has shown that when HIV is undetectable, it is virtually untransmittable, even through condomless sex.

This concept is known as U=U, which stands for undetectable = untransmittable.

Almost everyone who starts antiretroviral treatment finds a drug regimen that works within 6 months. It will take longer to find the right treatment in around 1 in 6 people because of their tolerance or adherence to the regimen.

HIV is a chronic condition. When the virus becomes undetectable, some copies still remain in the blood. People must continue to take their HIV medication as prescribed to keep their viral load undetectable.

When controlled, people living with HIV can experience the same quality of life as a person without HIV.

Viral load and CD4 levels
When someone contracts HIV, the virus begins to take over specific cells in the immune system, called CD4 cells.

When the CD4 cells replicate, the HIV cells inside them also replicate. HIV hijacks the cellular machinery of CD4 cells to reproduce and shed more HIV, which means the viral load increases.

As the HIV viral load increases, the number of healthy CD4 cells decreases as they are destroyed creating HIV copies.

Treatment aims to produce a low viral load and a high CD4 count. When a person has achieved this, their HIV is well controlled.

A low or undetectable viral load means the virus is not progressing. It also means that HIV is not attacking the immune system as actively. This gives the immune system the chance to rebuild its healthy cell count. As a result, the number of CD4 cells in the person's body will increase as their viral falls.

When should people get a viral load test?
A doctor will usually test a person's viral levels when they first diagnose HIV. Doctors will recommend an HIV test if someone presents symptoms of HIV or if they may have come into contact with the virus.

People living with HIV will have repeat viral load tests throughout their lives to monitor the condition. They should get tested once every 3 to 4 months during treatment.

Additionally, a person should get tested due to any alteration in their medication or if their symptoms change.

Low or undetectable viral counts are strong indicators that the person's treatment is working. If a test reveals that the viral load is increasing, a doctor may need to adjust their treatment.

Viral load test procedure
A doctor can test the viral load using a simple blood test. No preparation is needed.

The doctor or technician will draw a small amount of blood and send the sample to the labs to test the viral load and CD4 count.

It often takes a few days for the results to come back. Once they are back, the doctor will likely call to discuss the results with the individual.

Summary
HIV viral load refers to the amount of HIV present in a person's blood. Higher numbers typically indicate that they have not yet received HIV treatment, or that their treatment is not effective.

People living with HIV will also receive tests to check their CD4 count. These checks measure the number of cells the immune system produces. Higher numbers of CD4 cells indicate that the person's immune system is stronger and better able to fight off infections.

When the viral load reaches less than 200 copies/ml of blood, doctors consider that HIV is undetectable. Though copies of the virus remain in the blood, undetectable levels mean that a person cannot transmit the virus to others. When people achieve this, they can live the same quality of life as those without HIV.

[Big Sexy]

Hepatitis C and HIV coinfection
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323862.php

Hepatitis C is a contagious viral infection that affects the liver. People living with HIV are at higher risk of contracting hepatitis C because of the effect HIV has on the immune system.
In this article, we discuss the relationship between hepatitis C and HIV. We also cover symptoms, prevention, and treatment for hepatitis C.

What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C results from infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and causes inflammation of the liver.

Hepatitis C can occur in two forms:

Acute. This form of the disease is a short-term infection that usually develops within six months after contracting the virus. In most people, acute hepatitis C usually progresses to the chronic form.

Chronic. Around 70-85 percent of people with a HCV infection develop chronic hepatitis C. If left untreated, chronic hepatitis C can lead to liver cirrhosis, hepatic fibrosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma.

What is the link between HCV and HIV?
Both HCV and HIV are bloodborne viruses. Using injected drugs is a significant risk factor for both viral infections. Although sexual transmission of HCV is less common than HIV, it can happen if there is direct exposure to blood containing HCV.

What is the risk of coinfection?
A coinfection is when someone has two or more infections at the same time. People living with HIV are at risk of developing coinfections such as hepatitis C because HIV weakens the immune system, which leaves the body more vulnerable to other infections and illnesses.

HIV and HCV are also transmitted in similar ways, which means that people who have HIV may be at higher risk of exposure to HCV. In the United States, over a third of people living with HIV also have hepatitis C.

Coinfection of HCV and HIV is higher among those who use injected drugs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HCV coinfection occurs in between 62 and 80 percent of people with HIV who use injected drugs.

A systematic review of 783 studies concluded that people living with HIV were six times more likely to have hepatitis C than people without HIV.

Hepatitis C infections are more serious in people with HIV and can lead to more severe damage of the liver. HIV and HCV coinfections can increase the risk of:

liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, which is a buildup of scar tissue in the liver
end-stage liver disease
diabetes mellitus
cardiovascular disease
kidney disease

Symptoms of hepatitis C
Most people who have acute hepatitis C do not experience symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they can include:

fever
fatigue
dark urine
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
loss of appetite
joint pain
jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and eyes
Most people with chronic hepatitis C either show no symptoms, or their symptoms resemble other conditions. People with chronic hepatitis C can develop liver damage that ranges from mild to severe. However, the disease often progresses slowly, and symptoms of liver damage can develop gradually over years or even decades.

Symptoms of chronic hepatitis C can include cirrhosis, fatigue, and depression. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and can lead to:

jaundice
loss of appetite
abdominal pain
weight loss
bruising

HCV transmission
A person can contract HCV through direct contact with blood or other body fluids that contain the virus. Possible modes of transmission include:

using unsterilized needles or syringes
using unsterilized tattoo or body piercing equipment
needlestick injuries in healthcare and laboratory settings
sharing toothbrushes, razors, or any other objects that could have blood on them
having sexual intercourse without using a condom, although this is very rare

There is also a small risk that a woman can transmit the virus to the fetus during pregnancy. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, about 4 percent of women with hepatitis C transmit the infection to their infants. Having larger amounts of HCV in the blood or a HIV coinfection increases the risk of transmission.

Prevention of hepatitis C

People living with HIV may consider having regular tests for hepatitis C. Often, hepatitis C does not lead to symptoms until the virus has caused serious liver damage. The disease is difficult to recognize in the acute phase, which is why testing is important.

Ways to prevent hepatitis C include:

not sharing needles
not sharing personal hygiene items, such as toothbrushes and shaving razors
only using qualified and reputable practitioners for tattoos and piercings
using condoms during sex

Treatment of hepatitis C
Unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccine available for hepatitis C. Fortunately, both acute and chronic hepatitis C infections are curable.

Current hepatitis C treatments involve taking two or more medications known as direct antiviral agents, or DAAs. This combination of medications prevents HCV from replicating until the virus is no longer present in the body. Treatment usually takes 6 to 24 weeks but can take longer.

However, people who have both HIV and HCV need individualized treatments because the medications used to treat HCV infections can interact with HIV treatments.

A doctor will recommend a treatment plan based on the individual's:

hepatitis C genotype
amount and extent of liver damage
current medications

Takeaway
People who have HIV are at higher risk of getting hepatitis C than those without HIV. A person can contract hepatitis C through direct contact with blood that contains HCV.

Risk factors for hepatitis C include sharing needles or personal hygiene items, such as razors and toothbrushes. There is also a low risk of contracting HCV through sex without a condom.

It can often take years for symptoms of hepatitis C to develop, so regular testing allows for earlier detection and treatment. Hepatitis C is curable, but treatment is more complex in people living with HIV because the medications can interact with HIV treatment.