Hepatitis CWhat is Hepatitis C?Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C virus is a member of the Flavivirus family or ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses and is caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus produces by making many copies of itself in liver cells. The hepatitis C virus does not kill liver cells directly, but the immune response initiated by the virus can cause liver inflammation and cell death. Prevalence of Hepatitis CApproximately 260,000 Australians have been exposed to hepatitis C. The majority of people with hepatitis C are aged between 20 and 39 years and 35% of national notifications are women. Reference: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECR) (2006). ‘Estimates and projections of the hepatitis C virus epidemic in Australia' How is it transmitted?
Sex therapy and Relationship Counselling is available in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) - Melbourne, Victoria (VIC) - Adalaide, South Australia (SA) - Perth, Western Australia (WA) - Darwin, Northern Territories (NT) - Hobart, Tasmania (TAS) - Brisbane, Queensland (QLD) - Canberra, Australian Capital territory (ACT) |
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Hepatitis C is not commonly transmitted through unprotected sex, but is spread through blood-to-blood contact. The most common way people become infected in Australia is through unsafe injecting drug use. Transmissions also occur through un-sterile tattooing or body piercing procedures, through un-sterile medical procedures, through sharing personal items such as razors/toothbrushes and through accidental exposure to infected blood. Additionally woman with hepatitis C can also pass the virus onto her baby during childbirth.
