HAVE A PRICK, LIKE A PRICK, OR EVEN ARE A PRICK?
Check for hep C at a clinic near you:
WHICH PRICKS SHOULD TEST?
Hepatitis C can happen to anyone. However, men who have sex with men are at an increased risk. It only takes a microscopic drop of blood to contract or transmit the virus, and symptoms may not appear for years.
You should get tested if you’ve ever participated in activities like:
- Condomless anal sex
- Fisting without a glove
- Sharing sex toys or drug equipment
- Group sex
And if you or your partner live with HIV, hep C can be especially harmful. It’s always best to check.
WHICH PRICKS SHOULD TEST?
Hepatitis C can happen to anyone. However, men who have sex with men are at an increased risk. It only takes a microscopic drop of blood to contract or transmit the virus, and symptoms may not appear for years.
You should get tested if you’ve ever participated in activities like:
- Condomless anal sex
- Fisting without a glove
- Sharing sex toys or drug equipment
- Group sex
And if you or your partner live with HIV, hep C can be especially harmful. It’s always best to check.
WHAT EXACTLY IS HEP C?
The short answer: It’s an infection in the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus.
It’s passed when blood from a person with hep C gets into the blood of someone without hep C.
It may take years for symptoms to appear, and if left untreated hep C causes scarring on the liver that can lead to:
- Liver failure
- Liver cancer
- Death
Luckily, it is very easy to treat, and cure. The only way to know if you have hep C is to get tested regularly. For more information click HERE.
WHAT EXACTLY IS HEP C?
The short answer: It’s an infection in the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus.
It’s passed when blood from a person with hep C gets into the blood of someone without hep C.
It may take years for symptoms to appear, and if left untreated hep C causes scarring on the liver that can lead to:
- Liver failure
- Liver cancer
- Death
Luckily, it is very easy to treat, and cure. The only way to know if you have hep C is to get tested regularly. For more information click HERE.
WHY SHOULD PRICKS CARE?
Your liver is important to your health. You literally can’t live without it. Why risk permanent liver damage or life-altering medical conditions when you can easily test, treat, and cure hep C?
It’s simple to prevent yourself from either getting or passing hep C:
- Use condoms together with lube
- Use gloves for fisting
- Use new drug equipment
- Get regular testing
Looking out for yourself and your community is worth feeling proud about. Hence, this Proud Pricks campaign.
WHY SHOULD PRICKS CARE?
Your liver is important to your health. You literally can’t live without it. Why risk permanent liver damage or life-altering medical conditions when you can easily test, treat, and cure hep C?
It’s simple to prevent yourself from either getting or passing hep C:
- Use condoms together with lube
- Use gloves for fisting
- Use new drug equipment
- Get regular testing
Looking out for yourself and your community is worth feeling proud about. Hence, this Proud Pricks campaign.
HOW CAN PRICKS GET TESTED, TREATED, AND CURED?
Testing for hepatitis C is as easy as a simple blood test—just talk to your healthcare provider! And if you test positive, the cost of treatment is covered for nearly everyone in Ontario.
Treatment is as easy as taking 1-3 pills a day over a 2-3 month period. It has a 95% cure rate and most people have very few (if any) side-effects. The remaining 5% can be cured by repeating the treatment process.
Add hep C testing as part of your regular sexual health screening.
HOW CAN PRICKS GET TESTED, TREATED, AND CURED?
Testing for hepatitis C is as easy as a simple blood test—just talk to your healthcare provider! And if you test positive, the cost of treatment is covered for nearly everyone in Ontario.
Treatment is as easy as taking 1-3 pills a day over a 2-3 month period. It has a 95% cure rate and most people have very few (if any) side-effects. The remaining 5% can be cured by repeating the treatment process.
Add hep C testing as part of your regular sexual health screening.
WHO ARE THE PRICKS BEHIND PROUD PRICK.CA?
This campaign is brought to you by CATIE, in collaboration with the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance (GMSH) of Ontario.
CATIE strengthens Canada’s response to HIV and hepatitis C by bridging research and practice. They connect healthcare and community-based service providers with the latest science, and promote good practices for prevention and treatment programs. As Canada’s official knowledge broker for HIV and hepatitis C, you can count on CATIE for up-to-date, accurate and unbiased information.
GMSH works to improve the quality of sexual healthcare for all gay men in Ontario. They work with HIV service organizations, researchers, and front-line healthcare providers to increase their capacity and keep them up-to-date with the latest science and best practices. They also produce resources and campaigns to directly educate men in the community, equipping them to take the best care of themselves.
Production of this campaign has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Ontario Ministry of Health. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of our funders.
If you’ve read this far and still aren’t sure where to get tested for hep C, click HERE.
