Hepatitis C quietly damages the liver for years without obvious symptoms. The good news: modern pills cure most people — over 90% — when you get the right treatment. If you’ve had a possible exposure or risk factor, testing is simple and worth doing.
Most people feel fine for a long time. When symptoms show up they’re usually vague: tiredness, belly discomfort, dark urine, or jaundice. Don’t wait for symptoms. Get tested if you have any of these risks: past or current injection drug use, unregulated tattoos or piercings, blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992, long-term hemodialysis, or if you were born to a mother with hepatitis C. Some clinics also recommend testing for everyone born between certain years — check local guidelines.
Testing starts with a simple antibody blood test. If that’s positive, an HCV RNA test checks whether the virus is active. Both are routine at primary care, sexual health clinics, and many community health centers.
Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are oral pills taken for 8 to 12 weeks in most cases. These drugs target the virus directly and usually cause few side effects. Pangenotypic regimens work across different HCV types, so genotype testing matters less than it used to, though your doctor might still check it in some situations.
Before starting treatment you’ll have a quick check of liver health — blood tests, sometimes a FibroScan or ultrasound — to see if there’s scarring. If advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis is found, you’ll need longer follow-up after cure because liver disease still needs monitoring.
Treatment requires a prescription. Talk to your GP, hepatologist, or a sexual health clinic. Many places offer low-cost or covered therapy depending on your health system. If cost is a worry, ask about patient assistance programs or local support services.
Preventing reinfection matters. After cure, you can get infected again if exposed. Keep harm reduction practices: don’t share needles or other injection equipment, use certified tattoo and piercing studios, avoid sharing razors or toothbrushes, and practice safer sex if you or your partner have other sexually transmitted infections.
If you’re unsure what to do next, call your clinic or a local liver charity. Testing is quick, treatment is short, and cure changes long-term health for the better. If you think you might be at risk, make an appointment — curing hepatitis C is one of the clearest wins in medicine today.
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