Hepatitis – what is it?

There are several different viruses that can cause Hepatitis. The most common are Hepatitis A, B and C. These viruses pass from person to person through different means, cause damage to the liver in different ways and have different effects on your health.

All of these viruses can cause an acute (short-term) disease, with symptoms lasting several weeks – including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and possibly abdominal pain. Some of these viruses can also cause long-term (Chronic) problems.

The main one that you need to know about is Hepatitis B as there is a high level of Hepatitis B among gay men.

For detailed information from the British Liver Trust, click here.

Transmission

In Western Europe and North America most transmission occurs during young adulthood. This is due to sexual activity, needle sharing, occupational exposure and travelling. If you belong to an ethnic group from a country with high rates of infection you are at a statistically higher risk of contracting Hepatitis B.

For gay men in particular hepatitis B is easily transmitted via rimming and fucking without condoms and lube. It can also be passed on by sharing infected sex toys.

You cannot contract hepatitis B from contaminated food or water and it cannot be spread casually in the workplace.

Prevention

There is a high level of hepatitis B amongst gay men, so the Hepatitis B vaccine is usually made available to you from a sexual health centre.

If you are not offered Hep B vaccination at your next check up, there is nothing to stop you discussing this with any of the staff at the clinic.

Not everyone will need vaccination as some people have antibodies from a previous infection that they did not know about. This can be checked with a simple blood test. If you are not already immune in order to have full protection from Hepatitis B you need three or four separate doses of the vaccine. A nurse will probably give you the injection into a muscle in your arm. The first injection is usually followed by one a month later and another at six months. In some circumstances you can receive a rapid course of injections over one month. It is important that you complete the course since you will not have full protection until after the third injection. Booster doses may be required.

Your doctor may recommend that you have a blood test two to four months after the final injection to determine whether the vaccine has worked. A few people find out at this time that the vaccine has not been effective. If this happens, then your doctor may suggest a repeat course of injections.

Using condoms and lube will also help prevent transmission of this virus.