If blood is present during sex, there is a chance of getting infected with Hep C. Here are some examples of times when you could get or give Hep C during sex:
- sex when a woman has her period
- sex with no lube (dry sex) or rougher sex that causes tiny tears or cuts
- fisting
- sex when you or your partner has a sexually transmitted infection
- oral sex when lips are chapped, cracked, or burned (like you sometimes get from crack pipes)
Even if you think the risk of Hep C is low and you have unprotected sex (you don’t use a condom during sex), you could still get other infections like HIV, hepatitis B or sexually transmitted infections. These may make it easier to transmit Hep C. It’s like a downward spiral—if you can, use a condom during sex to break this cycle.
Male condoms
Male condoms go on the penis before anal or vaginal sex. You can use them for oral sex, too. If you’ve never used a condom before, practice at home by yourself to get it right. Here are the basic ins and outs of using a male condom:
- Use latex or polyurethane condoms and check the expiry date on the package.
- If you keep the condom in your pants pocket, heat and friction can damage it. Keep it in a purse or jacket pocket instead.
- Open the package carefully so you don’t tear the condom.
- Pinch the tip of the condom to remove air and to leave space for the cum (semen).
- Place the condom on the end of the penis so it’s easy to unroll—if it’s upside down, it won’t unroll easily.
- Unroll the condom right down to the base of the hard-on (erect penis).
- Use a water-based lubricant—examples include Astroglide, Wet, Forplay, KY (oil-based lubes, like Vaseline, can make the condom break).
- After cumming (ejaculating), pull off the condom while the penis is still hard and be careful not to spill the cum.
- Tie the condom in a knot and then throw it in the garbage.
- Use a new condom each time you have sex.
Female condoms
The female condom goes inside the vagina and is something a woman can use instead of her sex partner wearing a male condom. 
It’s like a bigger, baggier version of the male condom with two flexible rings: one on the inside to hold it up in place and one on the outside to hold it open. You can practice at home if you’ve never used one and you can put it in hours before you have sex. Here’s how to insert it:
- Check the expiry date on the outside of the package.
- Make sure the inner ring is inside the end of the condom (it can come out if you don’t like it).
- Squeeze the inner ring and put it in the vagina, being careful not to twist the condom.
- Use your finger to push the ring the rest of the way up—as far as it will go. It won’t go too far because the cervix (top of the vagina) will stop it.
- Add some lube to the inside of the condom or on the penis.
- Make sure the outer ring is spread open so the penis goes inside the condom and not underneath it or beside it.
- After sex, turn the outer ring to twist it closed (this will keep the semen inside the condom) then pull it out and throw in the garbage.
- Use a new condom each time you have sex.
Dental dams
A dental dam is a square piece of latex that you can use during oral sex as a barrier to stop the spread of Hep C and other sexually transmitted infections. It covers the vagina or ass so that the mouth and the genitals don’t touch each other directly.
Making the choice
Using a condom is the best thing to stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections and protect you and your partner. It can be hard to use condoms all the time because some people don’t like them or are sick of them. Maybe your partner is pressuring you not to use them. Try to talk about condoms to figure out what the best option is for you and your sex partner. You can switch to a different type if one kind doesn’t work for you, or do other kinds of sex, like hand-jobs, that are safer. Talk to your needle exchange program or health centre about other ways to have safer sex.
Back to top
