The Basics
What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is an infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can infect both men and women.
When people first get hepatitis B it is called an acute (new) infection. Most adults who get acute hepatitis B clear the virus on their own, meaning that the body gets rid of it without treatment. Other adults who get an acute hepatitis B infection develop a chronic (long-term) hepatitis B infection over time. Chronic hepatitis can cause liver damage, scarring of the liver, and cancer.
Where does hepatitis B live?
In females:
- Vaginal fluids (fluid that comes out the vagina, particularly when a woman is aroused)
- Breast milk (small amounts)
In males:
- Semen (sperm/cum)
In males and females:
- Blood
- Saliva
- Tears (only small amounts)
- Urine (pee) (only small amounts)
- Fecal matter (poop) (only small amounts)
- Cerebrospinal fluid (fluid in your brain or spine)
HBV can live outside the body for up to 7 days.
How common is hepatitis B?
In 2009, there were 38,000 acute (newly infected) cases of hepatitis B in the United States. An estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million people in the US are living with a chronic hepatitis B infection (meaning that they have been infected for many years).
Symptoms and Disease
If I have hepatitis B, will I develop symptoms?
About 1 out of 2 adults who have hepatitis B will never develop symptoms. Some people with no symptoms end up clearing (getting rid of it without treatment) the virus, but a lot of people who don’t have symptoms are still infected.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?
A lot of people with hepatitis B do not get symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they are different for acute (newly infected) and chronic (have been infected for many years) hepatitis B:
Acute symptoms include:
- Jaundice (a yellowing of the eyes and skin)
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Nausea (upset stomach) and loss of appetite
- Longer than normal time for bleeding to stop
- Swollen stomach or ankles
- Easy bruising
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Light-colored feces
- Dark urine
Chronic symptoms include:
- Jaundice (a yellowing of the eyes and skin)
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Taking longer than normal time for bleeding to stop
- Swollen stomach or ankles
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weakness
- Angiomas (harmless growths with visible blood vessels – look like red bumps on skin)
How quickly do the symptoms of hepatitis B develop?
When symptoms do develop, they appear an average 60 to 90 days after a person gets infected with hepatitis B virus. In some cases, symptoms may not show up for up to 6 months after exposure to the virus.
It can take many years for symptoms of a chronic hepatitis B infection to show up.
What can happen if I don't get treated for hepatitis B?
When the body can't get rid of the virus during an acute hepatitis B infection, it develops into chronic hepatitis B. Children and infants are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis B. Usually the chronic phase does not have symptoms until signs of liver damage appear.
There are medications that can treat chronic hepatitis B infections. If you have chronic hepatitis B, not taking the medication can cause:
- liver failure
- cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
- liver cancer
- death
Transmission
How is hepatitis B spread?
Hepatitis B is spread by direct contact with blood and is very contagious. It is also spread through body fluid containing blood. Sexually, it can be spread during:
- Vaginal sex (both partners)
- Anal sex (both partners)
- Performing oral sex on a penis (rare)
Non-sexually, hepatitis B can be spread through:
- Sharing needles (or other things used to inject drugs) with infected blood
- Sharing tattoo, body piercing, or acupuncture needles
- Accidental needle sticks that has been used by a person with Hepatitis B
- Sharing things that may have blood on them (toothbrushes, dental floss, razors, nail files)
- Through bites and blood transfusions (very rare)
Hepatitis B can also be passed from mother to child during childbirth.
How can I prevent getting hepatitis B?
There are several things you can do to prevent getting hepatitis B:
- Get the hepatitis B vaccine (a 3 dose vaccine)
- Abstain from (avoid) having sex
- If you have vaginal or anal sex, use a latex male condom or female condom
- If you have oral sex, use condoms or a latex or plastic barrier
- Avoid direct contact with body fluids (blood or any fluid containing blood)
- Don't share objects such as needle, razors, or toothbrushes if there's a chance they might be infected
For more tips, visit our Protect Page.
If I have hepatitis B, how can I prevent giving it to someone else?
There are several things you can do to prevent giving someone else hepatitis B:
- Ask you partner(s) if they have been vaccinated for hepatitis B vaccine. If not, suggest that they get vaccinated at their doctor's office
- If you have vaginal or anal sex, use latex male condoms or female condoms
- If you have oral sex, use condoms or a latex or plastic barrier
- Don't share your needles, razors, or toothbrushes if there's a chance they might be infected
For more tips, visit our Protect Page.
Can I still infect others with hepatitis B if I don't have symptoms?
Yes. If you have hepatitis B but don't have any symptoms, you can still infect other people with the virus.
Tests, Results, & Treatment
How long do I have to wait to get tested for hepatitis B?
Blood tests will start to detect the infection on average four weeks after exposure to the virus. For some people it might take up to 9 weeks to detect the infection with this test.
How do you test for hepatitis B?
Blood test: tests for hepatitis B antibodies (material your body makes in response to a hepatitis B infection). A blood test can tell you if you currently have the virus. The blood test can determine if you have acute or chronic hepatitis.
Liver biopsy: tests for liver damage caused by hepatitis B.
Ultrasound: tests for signs of liver damage and cancer caused by hepatitis B.
Liver function test: tests to see if liver functions are abnormal. hepatitis B can cause abnormal liver function tests.
Where can I get tested for hepatitis B?
You can get tested at a doctor's office. You can also go to a clinic that tests for hepatitis B. See our Test Page to get more information and search for clinics near you.
Is hepatitis B curable?
There are no medications that can cure hepatitis B, but sometimes the body clears (gets rid of) the infection on its own.
What is the treatment for hepatitis B?
Discuss treatment options with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
There is no treatment for acute (short-term) hepatitis B, but there are things you can do to feel better. Resting, drinking water, avoiding alcohol and drugs, and controlling your itching will help you feel better.
When hepatitis B becomes chronic, it can be treated with medications that try to slow or stop the virus from damaging the liver. Treatment is different for each person with chronic hepatitis B but can include medications such as: interferon, peginterferon, lamivudine, telbivudine, adefovir, or entecavir.
Can I use medication I already have to treat hepatitis B?
No. If your medication is old or the wrong type, it will not help you.
Can I share my hepatitis B medication with my partner?
No. Treatment options for chronic hepatitis B are different for each patient, and it is important that you take all the medication your doctor prescribes in order to prevent liver damage. If your partner needs medication, he or she will need to go to a doctor or other healthcare professional.
Do I need to do anything after I'm cured for hepatitis B?
There is no medical cure for hepatitis B, but some people can clear it (get rid of it) on their own. If a doctor tells you that you have cleared hepatitis B, make sure to continue to get tested to make sure you have not been re-infected.
Partner Notification
Should I tell my partner(s) if I have hepatitis B?
Yes, if you feel safe doing so. Hepatitis B can lead to serious health issue, so it is important that you think about telling your partners.
Who should I tell if I have hepatitis B?
There are no official rules for this. People will have different opinions about who you should notify. Here is what we suggest:
Past Partners
Acute hepatitis B: If you are diagnosed with acute hepatitis B and have symptoms, chances are you were infected in the past 6 months. We recommend that you notify anyone you have had vaginal or anal sex within the 8 months before you had symptoms and up to your diagnosis. If you are diagnosed with acute hepatitis B and you do not have symptoms, you should notify anyone that you've had sex with since 9 weeks before your last negative hepatitis B test.
Chronic hepatitis B: If you are diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, you may have been infected many years ago. We don’t have any recommendations on telling your past partners in this situation, so you might want to talk to a doctor.
Current Partners: As long as you feel safe telling your partner(s), we recommend you notify anyone you are currently having vaginal or anal sex with.
Future Partners: There aren't clear recommendations on this. Sometimes hepatitis B can be cleared from the body. If it is, you do not have to tell your future partners. If you aren't sure it is cleared, we recommend that you tell anyone you use drugs with in the future. We also suggest that you tell anyone that you have have vaginal or anal sex with.
That's a lot of people to notify. Which of my partners are most at risk for hepatitis B?
We recommend that you tell your current partners. We also suggest that you tell anyone you've had sex within the last 8 months before you found out you had hepatitis B.
