Hepatitis C incubation period
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When you become infected with an STI such as hepatitis C, you usually notice little or nothing. But even when symptoms do appear, they don't happen right away. The period between infection and the appearance of the first symptoms is called the incubation period. On this page you can read more about how long this period lasts with hepatitis C and what this means for the best time to test.
What is the incubation period of hepatitis C?
The incubation period of hepatitis C is the time between infection and the onset of symptoms. For hepatitis C, that period is between 2 and 26 weeks, with an average of 7 weeks. Often symptoms do not appear until later, or not at all. Because of this, you can have hepatitis C without even noticing it.
Hepatitis C without symptoms
Just because you have no symptoms does not mean the infection is harmless. Hepatitis C can go undetected in your body for years as the virus slowly damages your liver. This damage can accumulate and eventually lead to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer, with no obvious signs beforehand. This can be life-threatening. Precisely because hepatitis C often causes damage in silence, it is important to get tested at any risk. Even if you feel completely healthy.
When to test for hepatitis C?
Have you had unprotected sex or otherwise been at risk for hepatitis C? Or do you have symptoms that look like hepatitis C? You don't have to wait for the incubation period to pass: for a reliable test result wait at least until 8 weeks after the risk moment. After that, the virus is detectable in your blood in most cases. Not sure if you were at risk or when it's best to test? Then use our free STI test guide for personal advice.
Resources
This page has been carefully compiled with information from official and independent health organizations:
- STI AIDS Netherlands: NoMoreC: information and prevention for Hepatitis C.
- LCI RIVM: Hepatitis C guideline.
Take good care of your health with Soapoli-online's STI self-tests. Not sure yet which STI your symptoms fit with? Then first do ourfreeSTI Testing Guide!