To prevent contamination by tattoo needles, people should check that the tattoo store is approved by a federal agency and properly sterilizes equipment. Women with hepatitis C should not be discouraged from having children, the guidelines recommend. Most babies who are infected develop chronic hepatitis. Currently, there are no measures to reduce this risk, Gruslin says. Having a cesarean section to avoid virus transmission through the birth canal is also not recommended.
Mothers can also breastfeed their children, the guidelines say.
Women with hepatitis C are who having difficulty conceiving may need to take hormones if they are getting medical assistance to reproduce. These women should have liver function tests monitored carefully, says Gruslin. If a patient with hepatitis C has normal liver function, it should be no problem. Vaccinations for hepatitis A and B are also urged for those with hepatitis C, and will not harm the fetus in a pregnant woman. Timothy McClemont, executive director of the Hepatitis C Society of Canada in Mississauga, Ont., welcomes the guidelines.