Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. It can be diagnosed by a blood test, you can get this from Leeds Sexual Health or your GP.
What is it and how do I get it?
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.
What might I notice?
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.
How do I get a test?
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.
Service Finder
How do I get treatment?
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.
How do I prevent it?
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.
Should I tell people I have sex with?
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 or 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.
If you need further information about opening times and how to contact us please visit the contact us page.
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There are many types of contraception available and none are perfect. The Contraception Choices website provides honest information to help weigh up the pros and cons.
