Hepatitis B

How common is Hepatitis B?

Many gay men have had Hepatitis B, which is why clinics offer free vaccination against it. Hepatitis B is very infectious and can easily be passed on during sex. Many people get it without realizing. For others it can mean months of feeling sick and not being able to drink alcohol. For a few people who get it, it will be fatal.

In 2007, 4,519 cases of acute Hepatitis B in the United States were reported to CDC, the lowest ever recorded. However, because many hepatitis B infections have no symptoms, the actual number of new infections is estimated to be much higher. In 2007, an estimated 43,000 persons in the United States were newly infected with Hepatitis B. Rates are highest among adults, particularly males aged 25–44 years.

What causes Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that attacks the liver. It's found in body fluids like blood, semen (cum) and saliva (spit).

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B?

Many people have no obvious symptoms. But weeks or several months after getting infected you may get a flu-like illness which can be mild or more severe.

Other symptoms can include:
    * fever
    * headaches
    * feeling exhausted
    * having no appetite
    * being sick
    * feeling pain in your stomach
    * itchy skin
    * joint pain

You many get jaundice, which means:
    * your skin and the shites of your eyes turn yellow
    * your fecal matter goes a pale clay color
    * your urine (pee) is dark-colored

The vast majority of people get over their symptoms, suffer no lasting damage and stop being infectious. About one in 10 people who get the virus become 'carriers', which means that they feel fine but can still infect other people. Carriers run a small risk of getting liver cancer.

Around one in 100 people who get hepatitis B die from it.

How is Hepatitis B passed on?

The virus is usually in:
    * blood
    * semen (cum)
    * pre-semen (pre-cum)

The Hepatitis B virus is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV, so it's much easier to get or pass on through sexual activity. It can be passed on through unprotected:
    * Anal sex: topping or bottoming
    * Oral sex: sucking or being sucked
    * Rimming (Oral-anal sex)
    * Birth to an infected mother
    * Contact with blood or open sores of an infected person
    * Needle sticks or sharp instrument exposures
    * Injection drug use that involves sharing needles, syringes, or drug-preparation equipment.
    *Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person (they could have infected blood on them)

The virus can be in saliva (spit) and urine (pee), so it's possible it could be passed on through kissing and water sports, but this isn't common.

Hepatitis B is not spread through food or water, sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, hand holding, coughing, or sneezing.

How is Hepatitis B prevented?

You can protect yourself by getting vaccinated. The risk might be reduced by using condoms for anal sex (topping or bottoming) and oral sex (sucking or being sucked).

Vaccination
If you are a gay man, it is highly advised to get vaccinated because government guidelines state gay men are at risk and should be vaccinated.

You might be given a blood test before you're vaccinated which shows if you've already had Hepatitis B. If you have, you're now immune and can't get it again and don't need the vaccine.

The vaccinations are given as two or three injections over six months. You only get full protection if you have all the injections. A blood test after the last injection shows if the vaccine has worked, which it does for about 95% of people. After five years, you'll need a booster injection.

The older you are, or if you have HIV, the less effective vaccination can be. You might lose your protection sooner.

Let's Stop HIV Together Vertical Web Banner of Craig and His Friend. www.cdc.gov/actagainstaids

How is Hepatitis B treated?

You may need plenty of rest if you get Hepatitis B, which can mean many weeks off of work recovering. You may have to stop drinking alcohol for up to a year while your liver recovers.

If tests show you're a carrier, drugs may be able to control the virus.

Vaccination and HIV
You can be safely vaccinated if you have HIV. Vaccines have a short-lived effect on your viral load, so tell the person vaccinating you that you have HIV and let the doctor treating you for HIV know that you've been vaccinated.

Hepatitis

Tests: Find places where you can get free HIV/STD testing in Wake County.

Condoms: Find places where you can get free condoms in Wake County.

For general information about Wake County’s HIV/STD program and testing, please call 919-250-3950.
Do you have questions about HIV/STDs that you want answered? E-mail questions to: std.program@wakegov.com

To see all other resources in Wake County, North Carolina & the United States, CLICK HERE to return to our resources and links page.

This education awareness project is sponsored by the
LGBT Center of Raleigh.

Created and designed by Luke Keeler.

Info from CDC and THT

Page last updated: 04/01/17