Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver. The infection can be acute (early) infection or it can become chronic (longer than 6 months) and if left untreated can cause liver damage and liver cancer.

You can get Hepatitis B from contact with blood or other body fluids (saliva, semen and vaginal secretions) of a person with untreated Hepatitis B.

Common ways of getting the virus include:

• sex without a condom (oral, vaginal or anal)
• mother to baby at birth
• sharing razors or toothbrushes
• sharing needles for drugs
• tattoos or piercings if equipment not sterilised properly.

It can affect people of any age or race, but is more common in Africa, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and other Asian countries. It is important to consider being tested, if you were born in or if one of your parents were born in one of these countries.

Many people do not have any symptoms.

In acute (early) infection, you may feel sick or vomit, have a loss of appetite, get itchy skin, jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, and dark urine), diarrhoea or a mild flu-like illness.

Hepatitis B is tested for with a blood test, you can get this from Leeds Sexual Health or your GP.

It can take 3 to 6 months for it to show in the blood stream, so it is important to get another test if you have not been vaccinated (for example 6 months after the risk).

You can use the Service Finder below to find a testing service near you.

If your test shows that you have active Hepatitis B infection, the Leeds Sexual Health team will let you know.  We will invite you in for some further blood tests, and refer you to the Hepatitis B team, who will offer the treatment most appropriate for you.

We recommend and provide a vaccination for people who are particularly at risk of catching hepatitis B sexually. This includes all sex workers, men who have sex with men, Trans+ individuals, and those with a high risk partner. You can also prevent hepatitis B transmission by using condoms for sex and clean needles if you’re injecting drugs.

It is important to tell any people you have had sex with that you are being treated for Hepatitis B and condoms should be worn during sex. People you have sex with should get tested for Hepatitis B and be offered vaccination, this can be with us or your GP.

We routinely offer the following people vaccines to reduce their risk of getting Hepatitis B:

• sex-workers
• gay men
• bisexual people & their partners
• other men who have sex with men
• trans/non-binary individuals having sex with men.

If you inject drugs, it is important you do not share equipment or works.  Drug works (needles, filters, spoons and syringes) can be accessed for free from Forward Leeds.

BV (Bacterial Vaginosis)

Chlamydia

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)

Herpes

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

Gonorrhoea

Genital Warts

Epididymo-orchitis

Trichomonas vaginalis (TV)

SyphilisScabies

Molluscum contagiosum (MC)

Non-specific urethritis (NSU)

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Pubic lice (crabs)

Thrush