The risk of spreading hepatitis C through sex is low. However, the risk is increased if there is blood present, such as menstrual blood or during anal sex. Condoms aren't usually necessary for long-term heterosexual couples, but it's a good idea to use them when having anal sex or sex with a new partner.
However, if hepatitis C is affecting your performance at work and your employer knows about your condition, they may be obliged to make allowances for you, such as giving you leave of absence for going to the clinic. You may also be entitled to statutory sick pay to cover doctor appointments or time off work. You may need to have vaccinations and special arrangements may need to be made to ensure you're able to transport and store your hepatitis C medication safely.
It might also be a good idea to take any documentation, such as details of blood tests or medical records, in case you need medical treatment abroad. You can have a baby if you or your partner has hepatitis C, but there's a small risk around 1 in 20 of hepatitis C passing from mother to baby. There's also a small risk of the infection spreading to the unaffected partner when having unprotected sex, but this is very unlikely to happen. Speak to your doctor for advice if you're planning to have a baby and you or your partner has hepatitis C.
Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About hepatitis C 2. Symptoms of hepatitis C 3. Causes of hepatitis C 4. Diagnosing hepatitis C 5. Treating hepatitis C 6. Complications of hepatitis C 7. Living with hepatitis C. About hepatitis C Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect the liver. It's estimated that around , people in the UK have hepatitis C. You can become infected with it if you come into contact with the blood of an infected person.
Symptoms of hepatitis C Hepatitis C often doesn't have any noticeable symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged.
When symptoms do occur, they can be mistaken for another condition. Symptoms can include: flu-like symptoms , such as muscle aches and a high temperature fever feeling tired all the time loss of appetite abdominal pain feeling and being sick The only way to know for certain if these symptoms are caused by hepatitis C is to get tested see below.
How do you get hepatitis C? The hepatitis C virus is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact. Some ways the infection can be spread include: sharing unsterilised needles — particularly needles used to inject recreational drugs sharing razors or toothbrushes from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby through unprotected sex — although this is very rarehave the infection.
For example after a traffic accident or during childbirth, you may have been exposed to unscreened donor blood that potentially carried hepatitis C. All donor blood in Scotland has been screened for hepatitis C since September This also applies to other potential blood to blood transmission routes such as barbers and tattoo parlours.
It's estimated that around half of those who inject drugs Read more about the causes of hepatitis C. Getting tested for hepatitis C Seek medical advice if you have persistent symptoms of hepatitis C, or there's a risk you're infected, even if you don't have any symptoms. Treatments for hepatitis C Hepatitis C can be treated with a single, or combination of, medicines that stop the virus multiplying inside the body.
Complications of hepatitis C If the infection is left untreated for many years, some people with hepatitis C will develop scarring of the liver cirrhosis. Treating hepatitis C as early as possible can help reduce the risk of these problems occurring. Symptoms of hepatitis C Many people with hepatitis C don't have any symptoms and are unaware they have the infection. Early symptoms Only around 1 in every 3 or 4 people will have any symptoms during the first 6 months of a hepatitis C infection.
If symptoms do develop, they usually occur a few weeks after infection. Symptoms may include: a high temperature of 38C Later symptoms The symptoms of long-term chronic hepatitis C can vary widely. The symptoms can also go away for long periods of time and then return. Some of the most common problems experienced by people with chronic hepatitis C include: feeling tired all the time joint and muscle aches and pain feeling sick problems with short-term memory, concentration and completing complex mental tasks such as mental arithmetic — many people describe this as "brain fog" mood swings depression or anxiety indigestion or bloating itchy skin abdominal pain If left untreated, the infection can eventually cause the liver to become scarred cirrhosis.
When to seek medical advice See your GP if you persistently have any of the later symptoms above, or if they keep returning. Causes of hepatitis C You can become infected with hepatitis C if you come into contact with the blood of an infected person. The main ways you can become infected with the hepatitis C virus are described below. Injecting drugs People who inject drugs, including illegal recreational drugs and performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids, are at the highest risk of becoming infected with hepatitis C.
Less common causes Unprotected sex Hepatitis C may be transmitted during unprotected sex sex without using a condom , although this risk is considered very low.
If your partner has hepatitis C, you should be tested for the condition. Blood donations before September Since September , all blood donated in the UK is checked for the hepatitis C virus. Blood transfusions and treatment abroad If you have a blood transfusion or medical or dental treatment overseas where medical equipment is not sterilised properly, you may become infected with hepatitis C. Sharing toothbrushes, scissors and razors There's a potential risk that hepatitis C may be passed on through sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors and scissors, as they can become contaminated with infected blood.
Tattooing and body piercing There is a risk that hepatitis C may be passed on through using tattooing or body piercing equipment that has not been properly sterilised. Mother to child There is a small chance that a mother who is infected with the hepatitis C virus will pass the infection on to her baby. It's not thought that the virus can be passed on by a mother to her baby in her breast milk.
Needlestick injury There's a small approximately one in 30 risk of getting hepatitis C if your skin is accidentally punctured by a needle used by someone with hepatitis C. Diagnosing hepatitis C If you think you may have been exposed to hepatitis C, taking a test will put your mind at rest or, if the test is positive, allow you to start treatment early. Who should get tested? Hepatitis C often has no symptoms, so you may still be infected if you feel healthy.
The following groups of people are at an increased risk of hepatitis C: ex-drug users and current drug users, particularly users of injected drugs people who received blood transfusions before September recipients of organ or tissue transplants before people who have lived or had medical treatment in an area where hepatitis C is common — high risk areas include North Africa, the Middle East and Central and East Asia babies and children whose mothers have hepatitis C anyone accidentally exposed to the virus, such as health workers people who have received a tattoo or piercing where equipment may not have been properly sterilised sexual partners of people with hepatitis C If you continue to engage in high-risk activities, such as injecting drugs frequently, regular testing may be recommended.
The antibody test The antibody blood test determines whether you have ever been exposed to the hepatitis C virus by testing for the presence of antibodies to the virus. Further tests If you have an active hepatitis C infection, you will be referred to a specialist for further tests to check if your liver has been damaged. The tests you may have include: blood tests — these measure certain enzymes and proteins in your bloodstream that indicate whether your liver is damaged or inflamed ultrasound scans — where sound waves are used to test how stiff your liver is stiffness suggests the liver is scarred The specialist can also talk to you about any treatment you may need.
Treating hepatitis C Hepatitis C can be treated with a single, or combination of, medicines that stop the virus multiplying inside the body. Your treatment plan Treatment for hepatitis C involves: making lifestyle changes to help prevent further damage to your liver and reduce the risk of spreading the infection taking medications to fight the virus You'll normally need to take medication for weeks.
Lifestyle measures There are some things you can do to help limit or even undo any damage to your liver and before you start treatment you can prevent the infection spreading to others. These can include: eating a healthy and balanced diet exercising regularly cutting out alcohol or limiting your intake stopping smoking keeping personal items, such as toothbrushes or razors, for your own use not sharing any needles or syringes with others Read some FAQs about living with hepatitis C for more information.
Hepatitis C medications Until relatively recently, treatment for chronic hepatitis C usually involved taking 2 main medicines: pegylated interferon ribavirin Newer medications There are now a number of new medicines, called direct acting antivirals DAA that are always used to treat hepatitis C. NHS-approved hepatitis C medicines include: sofosbuvir a combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir a combination of ombitasvir, paritaprevir and ritonavir, taken with or without dasabuvir a combination of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir a combination of sofosbuvir, velpatasvir and voxilaprevir a combination of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir ribavarin For more information on a particular drug, see the NICE guidelines on treating chronic hepatitis C How effective is treatment?
Side effects of treatment Treatments with direct acting antivirals DAAs have very few side effects. Your nurse or doctor should be able to suggest things to help ease any discomfort. If you have any problems with your medicines, speak to your doctor or nurse straight away. Side effects for each type of treatment can vary from person to person. For a very small number of people, more severe side effects from hepatitis C treatments may include: depression skin irritation anxiety problems sleeping insomnia anorexia tiredness caused by anaemia hair loss aggressive behaviour Hepatitis C medications may have unpredictable reactions when taken with other medicines or remedies.
Treatment during pregnancy The medications used to treat hepatitis C, particularly ribavirin, can be harmful to unborn babies and aren't normally used during pregnancy.
Deciding against treatment Some people with chronic hepatitis C decide against treatment. This may be because they: don't have any symptoms are willing to live with the risk of cirrhosis at a later date don't feel the potential benefits of treatment outweigh the side effects treatment can cause Your care team can give you advice about this, but the final decision about treatment will be yours.
Complications of hepatitis C If left untreated, hepatitis C can sometimes cause scarring of the liver cirrhosis.
A number of things can increase your risk of getting cirrhosis, including: drinking alcohol having type 2 diabetes getting hepatitis C at an older age having HIV or another type of hepatitis, such as hepatitis B Overall, up to one in every three people infected with hepatitis C will develop cirrhosis within 20 to 30 years.
Cirrhosis If you have cirrhosis, the scarred tissue in your liver gradually replaces healthy tissue and prevents the liver from working properly. But as your liver loses its ability to function properly, you may experience: tiredness and weakness loss of appetite weight loss feeling sick very itchy skin tenderness or pain in your tummy tiny red lines blood capillaries on the skin yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes jaundice Other than a liver transplant , there's no cure for cirrhosis.
Liver failure In severe cases of cirrhosis, the liver loses most or all of its functions. Symptoms of liver failure include: hair loss build-up of fluid in the legs, ankles and feet oedema build-up of fluid in your tummy ascites dark urine black, tarry stools or very pale stools frequent nosebleeds and bleeding gums a tendency to bruise easily vomiting blood It's usually possible to live with liver failure for several years by taking medication.
Liver cancer It's estimated that around 1 in every 20 people with hepatitis-associated cirrhosis will develop liver cancer each year. Symptoms of liver cancer can include: loss of appetite unexplained weight loss tiredness feeling and being sick pain or swelling in your tummy jaundice Unfortunately, it's not usually possible to cure liver cancer, especially in people with cirrhosis, although treatment can help control your symptoms and slow the spread of the cancer.
Living with hepatitis C Could anything I do make hepatitis C worse? Is there anything else I can do to help myself? As well as cutting out alcohol, it can help to: control your weight with a healthy diet and regular exercise stop smoking get vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B This is because being overweight, smoking and having more than one type of hepatitis can increase the chances of your liver being damaged if you have hepatitis C.
Do I need a special diet? How can I avoid spreading the infection to others? You can reduce the risk of passing hepatitis C on to other people by: keeping personal items, such as toothbrushes or razors, for your own use cleaning and covering any cuts or grazes with a waterproof dressing cleaning any blood from surfaces with household bleach not sharing needles or syringes with others not donating blood The risk of spreading hepatitis C through sex is low.
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Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. You can take steps to reduce the risk of passing hepatitis A to others. Avoid sexual activity. Avoid all sexual activity if you have hepatitis A. Many kinds of sexual activity can spread the infection to your partner. Condoms don't offer adequate protection.
Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and changing diapers. Scrub vigorously for at least 20 seconds and rinse well. Dry your hands with a disposable towel. Don't prepare food for others while you're actively infected. You can easily pass the infection to others.
Preparing for your appointment If someone close to you is diagnosed with hepatitis A, ask your doctor or local health department if you should have the hepatitis A vaccine to prevent infection.
If you have signs and symptoms of hepatitis A, make an appointment with your family doctor or a primary doctor. Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot of information to cover, it's a good idea to be well-prepared. Listing questions for your doctor can help you make the most of your time together. For hepatitis A infection, some basic questions to ask your doctor are:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Alcohol, acetaminophen, and certain other medicines, vitamins, and supplements can cause more damage to your liver. You may need to stay in the hospital for a short time if you get dehydrated, have severe pain, suddenly become confused, or develop bleeding problems.
The best way to protect yourself against hepatitis A is to get the vaccine. The hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all children older than age 1. It begins to protect you only 4 weeks after you are vaccinated.
A 6- to month booster is required for long-term protection. Ask your doctor if the vaccination is right for you. You should also wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after cooking, after using the bathroom, and after changing diapers. Once you recover from hepatitis A, you develop antibodies that protect you from the virus for life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. American Liver Foundation: Hepatitis A.
This article was contributed by: familydoctor. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. You may hear conflicting reports from different sources. The U. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Food Poisoning. Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip.
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. High Blood Pressure. Home Diseases and Conditions Hepatitis A. Table of Contents. What is hepatitis? What is hepatitis A? Symptoms of hepatitis A The hepatitis A virus is usually in your system for 2 to 6 weeks before symptoms appear.
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