Hormones 2016

Hepatitis
Take precautions to stop the virus spreading from person to person during
group sex. Do this by covering anything which goes from one partner to
another with a fresh condom or fresh latex glove for each new person it
enters. Clean objects with warm water and anti-bacterial soap before using
on a new partner.
Enema equipment and pots of lubricant should not be shared.
If you have hepatitis C you shouldnt give blood. In some extremely rare
cases the organs of people with hep C have been donated to others with the
same condition.
If you are a ’carrier’ you may want to tell a partner and explain that you
are infectious. They can then decide if they are happy to take any risks
and want to take precautions. That way they cannot accuse you of infecting
them without them knowing the risk was there (tht, 2015d).
What can I do if I think I have hepatitis C?
A doctor or sexual health clinic can test you to see if you have hepatitis C.
If you do, treatment is available and you can discuss how to avoid infecting
your sexual partners or people you live with.
It can take three to six months before the blood test for hepatitis C will be
able to detect signs of infection in your blood (tht, 2015d).
Is there a vaccination against hepatitis C?
No, there is no vaccination against hepatitis C, however you can be
vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
If you already have hepatitis C, it is recommended to have the vaccination
against hepatitis A and B to protect your liver form further damage (tht,
2015d).
Treatment
If tests show you have had the virus for longer than six months you are a
’carrier’ with chronic (long-term) infection.
Drug treatment is available and has recently improved, with a better success
rate and fewer side effects.
Treatment can last for 12 weeks to 12 months and involves tablets and/or
injections. Avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs is advised.
If you are cured of hepatitis C you are not immune, you can get it again. You
can also still get other types of hepatitis - having hepatitis C and another
type is more serious (tht, 2015d).
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Version 2016.3576– – Document LATEXed – 1st May 2016
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