Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. Unlike hepatitis B, hepatitis C rarely goes away on its own. So treatment is often needed to clear the virus out of the body and prevent further damage. How is hepatitis C treated? We'll explain.

What is the treatment for hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is treated with medication. The quality of hepatitis C medication has greatly increased in recent years. As a result, there's a greater chance of a complete cure and you'll have almost no side effects from the treatment. Treatment lasts from 8 to 12 weeks. If the virus is not found in your blood 12 weeks after the treatment, you're completely cured of hepatitis C.

When do you get hepatitis C treatment?

Medication for hepatitis C is prescribed by a doctor. The doctor usually waits 4-6 weeks after diagnosis to start treatment because there's a (small) chance that your body will clear the virus on its own. Treatment prevents further damage to the liver and reduces and stops the virus. The earlier you start treatment, the smaller the chance of permanent liver damage. So test as soon as possible if you think you've been exposed to hepatitis C.

The risk of untreated hepatitis C

If the virus remains in your body with no treatment, your liver may be permanently damaged. For example, you may develop cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. In severe cases, this can be life-threatening. Because hepatitis C often progresses without symptoms, it can cause damage without you noticing. So if in doubt, it's always important to test and treat if necessary.

Arrange your test and treatment via Soapoli-online

Arrange your test and any follow-up steps easily through Soapoli-online. You order a reliable home test that uses a finger prick test to take a drop of blood from your finger. You send the sample to our lab and get the results within a few working days. If the test show that you have hepatitis C, our nurses will help you immediately with advice and referral for treatment. All safely, discreetly and without a visit to the doctor.

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.

Why choose Soapoli-online?

Soapoli-online has been offering comprehensive STI care for more than 10 years. Think you may have an STI? Take a test to be sure. More than 50,000 people a year already rely on our home STI tests. The test kits are available at up to 500 pharmacies and, of course, in our web shop. Our team of expert STI nurses is ready to help you every step of the way towards a healthy body, from choosing the right test to ordering medication.