Hepatitis C

What you need to know! Hep C can be a serious illness.

And you can get it through man to man sex.

Know the facts.

What's the big deal about Hepatitis C?

Some new evidence indicates that men who have sex with men may be at risk
for getting Hepatitis C (also called HepC or HCV) through sexual contact * Hep
C is a serious virus that attacks the liver and has health consequences for
the whole body You cannot live without your liver... and HepC is a chronic long-term
illness There are treatments available, but at this point have limited success
And for guys with HIV, HepC is really serious because it often advances the
course of HIV progression The long term consequences of HepC can be cirrhosis
of the liver, liver failure or liver cancer It's serious stuff.

* BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, April 2000

Should I be concerned?

Any time a person comes into contact with blood from a HepC-infected person,
there is a risk of HepC transmission So your risk is dependent on your behaviours
You can get HepC from sharing needles or other equipment * for drug use And
men having sex with men are at risk in any activities where there is contact
with blood The presence of sores or ulcers may increase the risk of there being
blood - and those sores are not always visible (like they could be inside his
ass) So there is a risk of getting HepC from sexual play such as href="/?q=book/view/31">rimming
or fisting.

* rigs, spoons, filters, water, crack pipes, snorting straws etc.

How can I protect myself?

• If you use drugs, don't share needles or other equipment.
• Use condoms and lube for anal or vaginal sex.
• If you fist, use latex or vinyl gloves and lots of lube .
• Avoid contact with blood in all sexual encounters.
• Get tested for HepC and ask your sex partner(s) to be tested for HepC as
  well.
• Get tested early. There is no vacination for HepC, but treatment is more
  successful with early therapy. If you are HIV+ or HepB+, it's even more important.
• If you test positive for HepC, it's important to get vaccinnated for Hep
  A&B .

If I'm concerned, or for more info, is there someone I can talk to?

YES

Call the AVI infoline, 384-2366 (greater Victoria) and 1 800-665-2437 On Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands!

Or call the Canadian Liver Foundation HelpLine: 1-800-856-7266