Is hepatitis C a sexually transmitted infection?
Disease description:
My roommate has been diagnosed with hepatitis C and is currently undergoing medication. Is hepatitis C a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Hepatitis C is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI); rather, it is a liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C is contagious and can be transmitted through several routes, including blood-to-blood contact, sexual contact, and mother-to-child transmission. Therefore, appropriate personal protective measures must be taken to prevent HCV infection. Casual, everyday contact does not pose a risk of transmission—for example, talking with, sharing meals with, or using the same toilet as a person with hepatitis C. Importantly, hepatitis C is curable.
