Hepatitis C — what it is and why it matters
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a virus that attacks your liver. Many people don't feel sick at first, but over years it can cause serious liver damage, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. The good news: modern medicines cure most people. This page gives clear, practical steps — how you get it, how to test, treatment choices, and simple ways to protect yourself and others.
How hepatitis C spreads and shows up
HCV passes through blood. Common ways include sharing needles or other injecting equipment, unsterile tattoo or piercing tools, and from mother to baby during childbirth. Less commonly, it can spread through blood transfusions in countries with poor screening. Sex transmission is possible but rare unless there is blood contact. You usually won't notice symptoms right away. When symptoms appear, they can be vague: fatigue, mild fever, stomach pain, dark urine, or jaundice (yellow eyes or skin).
Wondering if you're at risk? Get tested if you ever injected drugs, had a blood transfusion before widespread screening (before the early 1990s in many places), worked in healthcare with needle injuries, or were born to a mother with HCV. Also consider testing if you have unexplained liver test abnormalities.
Testing, treatment, and what to expect
Testing is two steps: an antibody test first (shows if you were exposed) and an HCV RNA test to confirm active infection. If RNA is positive, your provider may check your liver health (blood tests, FibroScan) and sometimes the virus genotype, though many newer drugs work across genotypes.
Treatment today usually means direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Names you might hear include sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (Epclusa), glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (Mavyret), and ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (Harvoni). Most people finish 8–12 weeks of pills with few side effects. Cure rates exceed 95% for most groups. Talk with a clinician about drug interactions — some common heart or cholesterol meds can clash with DAAs.
After cure, doctors still check liver scarring if you had advanced disease. People with cirrhosis need regular liver cancer screening even after the virus is gone.
Prevention is simple: don't share needles or personal items that may have blood (razors, toothbrushes), ask about sterile practices for tattoos or piercings, and use condoms if there's bleeding risk. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but vaccines for hepatitis A and B are recommended if you’re not immune.
If you think you might have been exposed, get tested — treatment is straightforward, highly effective, and can stop long-term liver harm. If you already have HCV questions or need help finding care, a primary doctor or local clinic can point you to testing and affordable treatment options.
