Your risk for Hepatitis C

A silent viral infection can affect a woman’s reproductive and sexual health before she’s aware enough to seek treatment, and Hepatitis C is one such infection.

Hepatitis C is a liver inflammation caused by the Hepatitis C virus, and while it affects both men and women, consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Michelle Bailey says it affects a woman’s body in other areas outside of the liver.

“Hepatitis C affects 1.5 to 3.5 per cent of people in the Caribbean. While there needs to be more research on how the virus affects women, what we do know is that when there is significant damage to the liver it could affect the menstrual cycle, menopause, birth control use and pregnancy,” Dr Bailey said.

She explained that the most common way in which the virus is transferred is through blood, and especially for couples who engage in sexual intercourse while the woman is menstruating, the virus could be passed from her to him during intercourse quite easily if he is not wearing a condom. Another common mode of transmission is through drug users who use contaminated needles.

Dr Bailey pointed out that a woman who has an acute viral hepatitis or flare should not be using oral contraceptives as it can exacerbate liver damage.

In women with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), menopause accelerates the liver fibrosis progression.

Dr Bailey said that postmenopausal women with chronic hepatitis should seek medical advice before taking hormone replacement. She said while there are some concerns about hepatotoxicity in these patients, many studies have shown that the oestrogen content could actually reduce progression to fibrosis of the liver.

In pregnancy, Dr Bailey said the possibility of the mother transmitting the virus to the child is dependent on whether she has low or high levels of the virus in her blood.

“Women who have high levels of the virus, which include those with serious liver damage or those in the acute phase of infection, are at a higher risk of transferring the Hepatitis C virus to their babies,” Dr Bailey explained.

Although the risk of the baby contracting the virus is less than five per cent, Dr Bailey indicated that women with Hepatitis C who are also HIV-positive have a twofold higher risk of transmitting the Hepatitis C virus to their newborns.

There is no significant evidence that the virus will be transferred during breastfeeding. Nonetheless, new mothers whose nipples are cracked or bleeding are advised to breastfeed from the unaffected breast until the other is healed.

Most patients with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms, but sometimes they may have muscle or joint aches, weight loss, feel tired or weak, and have decreased appetite.

“Treatment options are available which include a combination of pills or injections, and duration of treatment may vary from three months to a year,” Dr Bailey said.

Unfortunately, chronic Hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis of the liver, especially in patients who drink alcohol and are overweight. Hence careful follow-up with your physician is vital.