Facts & Myths
X Myth: If hepatitis C were really harming my health, I would have symptoms.
√ Fact: Symptoms of hepatitis C are often mild or absent altogether-80% of people with hepatitis C have no signs or symptoms of the disease -but liver damage can occur with or without hepatitis C symptoms.
X Myth: If I had hepatitis C, I would know how I got it. Only people who have a history of risky behavior need to be tested.
√ Fact: 30% of people with chronic hepatitis C don't know how they got it. Anyone who wants testing and information should have the opportunity to get it.
X Myth: If the level of the hepatitis C virus in my blood is low, my disease is not so bad.
√ Fact: Viral load alone does not give a clear picture of the progression of the disease and the health of your liver.
X Myth: There is a vaccine to protect against hepatitis C
√ Fact:This myth results from people constantly confusing hepatitis A or hepatitis B-both preventable with vaccines-with hepatitis C.
X Myth: Hepatitis C is a sexually transmitted disease
√ Fact: HCV is transmitted by blood-to-blood exposure. However, like many myths, this one is grounded in some truth. Hepatitis C can be transmitted sexually, but the risk is very low. It is difficult to study sexual transmission of HCV, but the majority of studies conducted to date have shown a 0-3% chance of contracting HCV through unprotected sex in stable monogamous heterosexual relationships.