Hepatitis C is a type of liver disease that is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Transmission of the infection occurs mainly through blood and through sexual contact. The liver produces bile juice that helps the body with digestion. The liver also has the function of removing toxic substances from the body. Hepatitis C causes inflammation and disorders in the liver that make it difficult for the organ to function. A large proportion of infected people do not know that they have the disease, as hepatitis C can be asymptomatic. According to studies, men who have homosexual contacts have a higher risk of contracting hepatitis C. Practicing safe sex and taking other health precautions can reduce this risk. The male body is less able than the female body to fight the hepatitis C virus after infection. According to studies, men have consistently lower clearance rates (the rate at which a substance is cleared from the body) than women. The clearance rate represents the body’s ability to get rid of the virus so that it can no longer be detected in the body. Men are less able to clear the virus than women. However, the reason for this difference is unclear to scientists. Possible factors include: The age at which the man was infected with hepatitis C; Presence of other possible infections, such as HIV; The way in which the infection occurred, such as – blood transfusion, sexual contact or intravenous drug use Hepatitis C occurring for a relatively short period of time is called acute hepatitis. People with acute hepatitis C usually get over the viral infection within six months. Chronic hepatitis C is a longer-lasting form of liver disease. The patient’s immune system may not have been able to defeat the virus and it has remained in his body for a long period. Untreated chronic hepatitis C can lead to damage to liver structures and liver cancer. Although hepatitis C is often asymptomatic in some people, other people may experience symptoms of the disease within a few months of exposure to the virus, such as: Fatigue; Yellowing (jaundice) of the sclera (whites of the eyes); Stomach pains; Muscle strain; Diarrhea; Upset stomach’ Loss of appetite; Fever; Dark-colored urine; Pale stools Symptoms of hepatitis C cannot be distinguished from symptoms of other viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B). Hepatitis C can be identified only with the help of serological tests and proof of the presence of antibodies to viral antigens. Bibliography: Baden R, et al. (2014). Natural history and management of hepatitis C Bakr I. et al. Higher clearance of hepatitis C virus infection in females compared with males National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Hepatitis C Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hepatitis C