Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious inflammation of the liver. You can get hepatitis B during sex. The risk is greater if there is any bleeding, which you may not even notice. You can be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
Video: Doctor Hanna about hepatitis B
Symptoms
Hepatitis B often only starts causing symptoms a few months after infection. These include:
- Tiredness
- Fever
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Aches and pains in muscles and joints
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes
Treatment
Not all types of hepatitis B have to be treated. Many people recover on their own. Rest, a fat-free diet, and no alcohol or drugs help the healing process.
But the virus may stay behind in your body. You will then be a carrier of the virus for the rest of your life. This is called chronic hepatitis B. If you have chronic hepatitis B, you can be given treatment at a hospital clinic.
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Vaccination prevents hepatitis B!
You can be vaccinated against hepatitis B. This is recommended if you are at greater risk, for instance if your partner has Hepatitis B, or if you’re a man who has sex with other men. Anal sex increases the hepatitis B risk.
Are you male and gay or bisexual? The animation below tells you everything you need to know about hepatitis B and how to protect yourself.
And here you can find out more about vaccination against hepatitis B.
More about hepatitis B vaccinations
For gay and bisexual men