ABOUT STIs

Hepatitis C is a viral infection affecting the liver. Hepatitis C is not as easily passed on as hepatitis A or B but it can cause long-term damage to your health and there is no vaccine to prevent it. The hepatitis C virus is present primarily in blood (including dried blood) and can also be present bodily fluids such as cum.

The most common way to catch hepatitis C is by sharing contaminated needles, spoons, and/or filters to inject drugs. It’s also possible to catch hepatitis C by having unprotected sex with an infected person.

You may be at greater risk of contracting Hepatitis C if you are:

• engaging in chemsex
• engaging in riskier sexual activity, i.e. fisting or needle play
• injecting drugs
• sharing injecting equipment

Many people do not experience any symptoms when they first become infected. Some people may have vague flu-like symptoms including tiredness, loss of appetite, joint pains and nausea some weeks after being infected. Some infected people remain well throughout their lives and develop no problems with their liver.

However, other people can develop longstanding (chronic) hepatitis C infection and can have symptoms of liver damage, such as jaundice (yellow skin and eyes, and dark urine), ongoing tiredness, nausea, vomiting or unexplained weight loss. Long-term liver damage can cause cirrhosis, which, without treatment, can eventually lead to liver failure, which is life-threatening.

We offer dry blood spot testing through our Substance Support Service. Call, text or email to speak to one of our team for more information.