how do you get hep c

Hepatitis C is primarily acquired through exposure to infected blood. The most common ways to get hepatitis C include sharing needles or any equipment to inject drugs, sharing tattoo or piercing tools that are not sterile, receiving blood transfusions or organ transplants before proper screening began (before the early 1990s), and exposure to contaminated medical equipment. Transmission can also happen from an infected mother to her baby during birth, though this is less common. Sexual transmission of hepatitis C is possible but rare, especially in monogamous relationships. The risk increases with multiple sexual partners, the presence of other sexually transmitted infections, traumatic sex, or HIV coinfection. Sharing personal items like razors or toothbrushes that might have blood on them can also pose a risk. Hepatitis C is not spread by casual contact such as hugging, kissing, sharing food or drinks, or mosquito bites. In summary, hepatitis C is mainly spread through blood-to-blood contact, especially by sharing needles or through exposure to contaminated blood products or medical tools.