Hepatitis C is most commonly spread when the blood of an infected person enters the blood of a person who is not infected. This often happens through sharing needles and other equipment for drug injection.

Risk is RELATIVELY LOW for:
Vaginal sex, anal sex (top AND bottom), sharing sex toys

Risk is HIGH for:
Sharing needles, syringes, and other equipment to inject drugs

Even if someone with Hepatitis C does not experience symptoms, they can still spread the virus to others.

Approximately 70%-80% of people infected with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms. The symptoms that arise most commonly:

• Fever
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Jaundice (yellow colour in the skin and eyes)

If symptoms do occur, they usually present themselves 6-7 weeks after infection. The symptoms can last between 2-6 months. Even if a person with Hepatitis C has no symptoms, they can still spread the virus to others.

HIV and Hepatitis C co-infection means that a person has both HIV and Hepatitis C. About 25% of all Hepatitis C infections are in gay men who are also living with HIV, and a big challenge these men face is that HIV and Hepatitis C both make the body more vulnerable to infection. This means that HIV can increase the risk of complications due to Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis C can increase the chances of passing or getting HIV.

In general, co-infection can make the effects and symptoms of Hepatitis C worse. Liver damage can happen more quickly, and the immune system can become severely weakened.

Both HIV and Hepatitis C are slow-acting viruses, so people can be infected for years with either virus without having any symptoms of illness. The only way to know if you have HIV and Hepatitis C is to get tested.