I Have Hep C. Can I Have a Baby?

When you are living with hep C, you might wonder if you can have a family. The answer is: Yes! Knowing that you have hep C before you get pregnant gives you options. Here’s some information to help you plan.

First of all, some good news:

• Hep C does not keep you from getting pregnant
• Pregnancy does not seem to make hep C worse¹
• Treating hep C before pregnancy makes a healthy pregnancy much more likely, for both mom and baby^1,2,3,4

Can I get pregnant during treatment?

If you’re getting treatment for hep C now, it’s important to know that ribavirin can cause abnormalities in babies. Your doctor can help you make a plan to avoid pregnancy while taking this medication, and for 6 months after finishing it. This is true for people whose partners are taking ribavirin too.

Can I get treated during pregnancy?

The direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs are not usually recommended during pregnancy because we don’t know enough about them yet. Ask your doctor for more information.

Important considerations

Hep C may or may not cause some problems in pregnancy, depending on how severe the infection is. Some research studies have found that babies born to women with hepatitis C may be more likely experience adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as pre-term (early) delivery, low birth weight, or a need for monitoring in the neonatal ICU after birth.¹

There may also be a higher chance of diabetes during the pregnancy. There’s also an increased chance of a liver problem called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).¹ ICP can be dangerous for both moms and babies, but your pregnancy care team can monitor closely to decrease the chance of problems.¹

What about cirrhosis?

People with cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver do have some possible risks in pregnancy. Cirrhosis can cause increased chances for bleeding and a blood pressure problem called preeclampsia in the mother, and early delivery and low birth weight for the baby.² People with cirrhosis should consider getting care from specialists during their pregnancy.

Can I spread hep C to my baby?

You may have heard that mothers can give hep C to their babies. But it doesn’t happen often! If you have finished treatment, and your hep C is cured, you can’t transmit the infection to your baby.^2,5 Even without treatment, the chance is small - about 6 percent. And less virus in the bloodstream (lower viral load) means less chance for the baby to become infected. So specialists recommend treatment before pregnancy when possible.^1,2,3,4

What if I have HIV?

In the US, about 5 percent of people with hep C are also living with HIV.⁶ Having both HIV and hep C causes a greater chance of hep C transmission to the baby — up to 19 percent — but there’s less risk if the HIV is under control (being managed well). So knowing your HIV status and getting treatment can make pregnancy safer.^1,2,5

You can have a baby with hep C. Talk with your doctors about your plans for getting pregnant so both you and your baby will be as healthy as possible.^2,7