Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It’s TransmittedWays It Isn’tChance of Sexual TransmissionRisk FactorsReinfectionBlood DonorsTesting ImportanceFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Hepatitis C GuideSymptoms of Hepatitis C Virus
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It’s Transmitted
Ways It Isn’t
Chance of Sexual Transmission
Risk Factors
Reinfection
Blood Donors
Testing Importance
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Hepatitis C Guide
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Hepatitis C can cause acute or chronic diseases. Acute HCV cases usually result in asymptomatic disease and do not typically cause life-threatening conditions. Approximately 30% of people who have an acute HCV infection clear the virus from their liver in six months without treatment.
Approximately 70% of infected individuals develop chronic HCV cases, which can result in life-threatening conditions, such ascirrhosis(scarring of the liver) and liver cancer.Many people with chronic HCV haveno symptoms or only vague symptomsuntil liver damage is advanced.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates half of the people with chronic HCV don’t know they have the infection.This article will discuss how hepatitis C is transmitted, how it isn’t transmitted, and common risk factors.
Prevalence of HCVIn a 2013-2016 survey, the CDC estimated that approximately 2.4 million Americans (1% of the population) were living with hepatitis C, and this number is rising due to the opioid crisis.Of the affected 2.4 million individuals, it was also estimated that about half of them may be unaware that they have the infection.
Prevalence of HCV
In a 2013-2016 survey, the CDC estimated that approximately 2.4 million Americans (1% of the population) were living with hepatitis C, and this number is rising due to the opioid crisis.Of the affected 2.4 million individuals, it was also estimated that about half of them may be unaware that they have the infection.
How Do You Get Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a very common virus among drug injection users. However, you can acquire the virus if you come in contact with the blood of a person living with hepatitis C(blood-to-blood contact). The list below describes the most common ways this can occur.
Shared Drug Equipment
Sharing or reusing needles and syringes can retain small amounts of infected blood that can be transmitted to the next person who uses them.
Pregnancy and Birth
Sexual Contact
While hepatitis C can be transmitted through sexual contact, this is not a common transmission route. However, if you already have asexually transmitted infection(STI) or have multiple sexual partners, you are at a greater risk of contracting hepatitis C.
Unregulated Tattoos and Body Piercings
Tattoos and body piercings use needles that pierce through your skin. Each piercing brings more opportunities for the needle to come in contact with infected blood. If you get a tattoo or body piercing using the same needle (unsterilized) that’s been exposed to infected blood, it puts you at greater risk of contracting hepatitis C.
Shared Hygiene Items
Blood Transfusions and Organ Transplants
Before June 1992 when HCV screening of blood supply was mandatory, hepatitis C was commonly spread throughblood transfusionsandorgan transplants. It is now very rare to contract hepatitis C through blood transfusions and organ transplants.
Unsterilized Medical Equipment
Any unsterilized medical equipment that has been contaminated with blood containing HCV puts you at risk of getting hepatitis C. If you use medical devices or receive medical injections at home, make sure to sterilize all products before and after use to prevent infection.
Ways It Isn’t Transmitted
Because hepatitis C is spread through blood-to-blood contact, youcannotget hepatitis C through the following ways:
What Are the Chances of Getting Hep C Sexually?
Hepatitis C can be transmitted through sexual activity, but it is uncommon. It is estimated that among heterosexual couples, the risk of getting hepatitis C through sexual activity is approximately 1 in 380,000 individuals.However, you are at a greater risk of getting hepatitis C if you have a sexually transmitted infection or have sex with multiple partners.
Risk factors for hepatitis C include the following:
Hepatitis C Reinfection
Unfortunately, there is currently no vaccine to protect you from getting hepatitis C. If you’ve had a hepatitis C infection and were able to recover from it successfully, it is possible to become reinfected with the virus if you are exposed to it again.
Can People With Hep C Be Blood Donors?
You are ruled out as a blood donor if you have had hepatitis C, even if you have no symptoms.All blood donations in the U.S. are tested for hepatitis C antibodies and nucleic acids, which will indicate whether the person has had HCV in the past.This is essential to prevent the transmission of HCV to the blood recipients.
Why It’s Important to Get Tested
Because hepatitis C is a highly infectious virus, the CDC recommends that adults 18 years or older gettested for hepatitis Cat least once in their lifetime.This is also true for pregnant people during each pregnancy.
To test whether you have a hepatitis C infection, your healthcare provider will perform a hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) test to determine whether you have antibodies that were created in response to the infection. If your HCV antibody test is positive, you’ll need an additional test called a nucleic acid test (NAT), which looks for HCV RNA. The NAT test determines whether you have had HCV in the past or are currently infected with the virus.
If your test is positive, your healthcare provider will also perform a hepatitis C RNA test, which accurately determines whether you have a current infection.
Once it is determined you have an HCV infection, your healthcare provider will recommend the best course of treatment. For most people, (unless pregnant, breastfeeding, or under age 3) treatment with antiviral drugs will be started.There are effective treatments that can cure HCV and prevent liver damage.
Summary
The common risk factors for hepatitis C include if you are an injection drug user and frequently share needles and syringes that may be contaminated with HCV. Or if you’ve had a blood transfusion before June 1992 when HCV tests were first introduced as a requirement for blood screening, and if you have multiple sexual partners and/or engage in condomless sex.
There is currently no vaccine to protect you from getting hepatitis C. If you’ve had a hepatitis C infection and were able to recover from it successfully, it is possible to become reinfected with the virus if you are exposed to it again.
A Word From Verywell
Living with hepatitis C can affect you physically and emotionally. Fortunately, there’s always help. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment options for your condition and how to best manage stress and anxiety.
Your healthcare provider can also walk you through how to best manage your symptoms and live a life as close to normal as possible.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYou can get hepatitis C through direct contact with blood from someone with the infection. As such, the virus does not spread through saliva.There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C. To protect yourself from acquiring the virus, avoid behaviors that put you at risk, particularly sharing and injecting needles and syringes.Antiviral medications can treat hepatitis C infections. Over 90% of people with HCV can be cured with treatment.However, you can be reinfected with the virus after recovering from the infection.Hepatitis C can remain contagious for a few weeks to lifelong.Hepatitis B, the most common liver infection in the world, is about five to 10 times more contagious than hepatitis C.
You can get hepatitis C through direct contact with blood from someone with the infection. As such, the virus does not spread through saliva.
There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C. To protect yourself from acquiring the virus, avoid behaviors that put you at risk, particularly sharing and injecting needles and syringes.
Antiviral medications can treat hepatitis C infections. Over 90% of people with HCV can be cured with treatment.However, you can be reinfected with the virus after recovering from the infection.
Hepatitis C can remain contagious for a few weeks to lifelong.
Hepatitis B, the most common liver infection in the world, is about five to 10 times more contagious than hepatitis C.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.Hepatitis C.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Test for hepatitis C during every pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C prevalence estimates 2013-2020.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is hepatitis C?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexual transmission and viral hepatitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C questions and answers.Dodge JL, Terrault NA.Sexual transmission of hepatitis C: a rare event among heterosexual couples.Journal of Coagulation Disorders. 2014;4(1):38-39.Falade-Nwulia O, Sulkowski MS, Merkow A, Latkin C, Mehta SH.Understanding and addressing hepatitis C reinfection in the oral direct-acting antiviral era.J Viral Hepat. 2018;25(3):220-227. doi:10.1111/jvh.12859Pfaender S, von Hahn T, Steinmann J, Ciesek S, Steinmann E.Prevention strategies for blood-borne viruses-in the era of vaccines, direct acting antivirals and antiretroviral therapy.Rev Med Virol. 2016;26(5):330-339. doi:10.1002/rmv.1890Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Blood safety basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing recommendations for hepatitis C virus infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C testing.Hepatitis B Foundation.What’s the difference: hepatitis B vs. hepatitis C?
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Health Organization.Hepatitis C.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Test for hepatitis C during every pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C prevalence estimates 2013-2020.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is hepatitis C?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexual transmission and viral hepatitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C questions and answers.Dodge JL, Terrault NA.Sexual transmission of hepatitis C: a rare event among heterosexual couples.Journal of Coagulation Disorders. 2014;4(1):38-39.Falade-Nwulia O, Sulkowski MS, Merkow A, Latkin C, Mehta SH.Understanding and addressing hepatitis C reinfection in the oral direct-acting antiviral era.J Viral Hepat. 2018;25(3):220-227. doi:10.1111/jvh.12859Pfaender S, von Hahn T, Steinmann J, Ciesek S, Steinmann E.Prevention strategies for blood-borne viruses-in the era of vaccines, direct acting antivirals and antiretroviral therapy.Rev Med Virol. 2016;26(5):330-339. doi:10.1002/rmv.1890Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Blood safety basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing recommendations for hepatitis C virus infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C testing.Hepatitis B Foundation.What’s the difference: hepatitis B vs. hepatitis C?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
World Health Organization.Hepatitis C.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Test for hepatitis C during every pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C prevalence estimates 2013-2020.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is hepatitis C?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexual transmission and viral hepatitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C questions and answers.Dodge JL, Terrault NA.Sexual transmission of hepatitis C: a rare event among heterosexual couples.Journal of Coagulation Disorders. 2014;4(1):38-39.Falade-Nwulia O, Sulkowski MS, Merkow A, Latkin C, Mehta SH.Understanding and addressing hepatitis C reinfection in the oral direct-acting antiviral era.J Viral Hepat. 2018;25(3):220-227. doi:10.1111/jvh.12859Pfaender S, von Hahn T, Steinmann J, Ciesek S, Steinmann E.Prevention strategies for blood-borne viruses-in the era of vaccines, direct acting antivirals and antiretroviral therapy.Rev Med Virol. 2016;26(5):330-339. doi:10.1002/rmv.1890Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Blood safety basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing recommendations for hepatitis C virus infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C testing.Hepatitis B Foundation.What’s the difference: hepatitis B vs. hepatitis C?
World Health Organization.Hepatitis C.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Test for hepatitis C during every pregnancy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C prevalence estimates 2013-2020.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is hepatitis C?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexual transmission and viral hepatitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C questions and answers.
Dodge JL, Terrault NA.Sexual transmission of hepatitis C: a rare event among heterosexual couples.Journal of Coagulation Disorders. 2014;4(1):38-39.
Falade-Nwulia O, Sulkowski MS, Merkow A, Latkin C, Mehta SH.Understanding and addressing hepatitis C reinfection in the oral direct-acting antiviral era.J Viral Hepat. 2018;25(3):220-227. doi:10.1111/jvh.12859
Pfaender S, von Hahn T, Steinmann J, Ciesek S, Steinmann E.Prevention strategies for blood-borne viruses-in the era of vaccines, direct acting antivirals and antiretroviral therapy.Rev Med Virol. 2016;26(5):330-339. doi:10.1002/rmv.1890
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Blood safety basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing recommendations for hepatitis C virus infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C testing.
Hepatitis B Foundation.What’s the difference: hepatitis B vs. hepatitis C?
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