Responsible, sexually active people are educating themselves on safe sex, and this education includes learning about Hepatitis C's potential for transmission during sexual contact. HCV is the most common blood borne infection in the United States. As the number of people realizing they have HCV continues to rise, so does the concern of how they were originally infected with this disease.

Truthfully, the evidence indicating HCV is spread through sexual activity is inconclusive. However, researchers have uncovered those at higher risk of transmitting Hepatitis C through sex.

A majority of published studies about monogamous heterosexuals have concluded an extremely low incidence of sexually transmitting Hepatitis C. While someone in a long-term, monogamous relationship with a partner infected with HCV is at risk, the risk of sexual transmission ranges from 0 to 0.6 percent per year. This risk of transmission is slightly higher — about 1 percent per year — if involved in a short-term sexual relationship with someone who has Hepatitis C. This risk increases if your partner is also infected with HIV.

Rates of transmission are higher:

· When a person has an acute HCV infection
· When the infected individual has a high viral load
· Individuals who have frequent sexual encounters and/or multiple sexual partners
· When mucosa is damaged from potentially vigorous sexual techniques such as anal intercourse, fisting and use of certain sex toys.

Until medical researchers provide us with more concrete guidelines, practicing safe sex is the only reliable method of preventing sexual transmission of HCV.