WTF is
Hepatitis?
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Hepatitis is often caused by a virus.
Hepatitis A
Hmm...
How do I know if I have it?
Individuals who contract hepatitis A may become sick for a few weeks to a few months. Most people will recover completely after infection and will not develop any lasting liver damage. Once recovered from hepatitis A, antibodies develop which protect against being reinfected.
Symptoms may include:
- Yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes (this is referred to as jaundice)
- Dark urine (pee)
- Grey colored feces (poop)
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Extreme fatigue and weakness
How do I get tested?
Doctors diagnose hepatitis A based on symptoms and a blood test. A blood test will detect antibodies for the hepatitis A virus and show whether a hepatitis A infection is present.
Uh...
How do I get treated?
- There are no specific treatments for hepatitis A.
- The body will clear, or cure, the infection on its own over the course of a few weeks to a few months.
- Healthcare providers usually focus on managing symptoms. Often treatment includes fluids and pain management.
- People with hepatitis A should practice ways to prevent others from being exposed.
Well...
How is it transmitted?
- Hepatitis A is a very contagious, short-term liver infection.
- The virus is found in the feces (poop) of someone with hepatitis A and spreads when infected fecal matter is ingested through close contact with someone who is infected, consuming contaminated food or drinks, sharing injection equipment and through sexual contact.
- Sharing sex toys, rimming, fisting, or other anal sex play where the mouth may come into contact with feces, can also spread hepatitis A.
Ok...
How do I protect myself?
- The best way to prevent hepatitis A is by getting vaccinated. The hepatitis A vaccine is safe and effective.
- Hand washing with soap and water before preparing food and after bathroom use or changing diapers.
- Using new injection equipment each time.
- Practicing safer sex by using condoms and dental dams.
Where can I get vaccinated?
A healthcare provider can answer questions about getting vaccinated. Vaccines are offered at most health clinics and pharmacies. Some locations offer free or low-cost vaccines for people without health insurance.
Click below to find a vaccinating pharmacy or clinic:
Hepatitis A & HIV
If an individual is living with HIV, their health care providers should check to see if they developed immunity to hepatitis A, either through a previous infection or from being vaccinated. Individuals that don’t have immunity may be offered the vaccine to prevent future infection.
Hepatitis B
Hmm...
How do I know if I have it?
Most adults have symptoms of hepatitis B when they first get it. Some adults, however, have had hepatitis B for a long time and will show no symptoms during that time. The best way to find out is to get tested.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include:
- Yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes (this is referred to as jaundice)
- Dark urine (pee)
- Grey colored feces (poop)
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Extreme fatigue and weakness
How do I get tested?
Testing for hepatitis B is recommended for all adults 18 years and older at least once in their lifetime, during every pregnancy, and more frequently if there is ongoing risk of transmission. Testing for hepatitis B is done by a blood draw. The test results will show if antibodies are present due to previous infection, if there is a current infection, or if there is no exposure. A healthcare provider can provide guidance about the next steps.
Uh...
How do I get treated?
It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider so they can determine what course of action is best as every individual is different.
- Not everyone with hepatitis B needs to be treated.
- For those that do require treatment, there are several treatment options to keep the infection from progressing into a serious illness.
- Additionally, screening for liver cancer is an important part of ongoing care for hepatitis B for everyone.
Well...
How is it transmitted?
- Hepatitis B can be transmitted through contact with blood, vaginal fluids or semen of a person living with hepatitis B.
- This can happen through condomless sexual contact, sharing needles or works, sharing household items such as razors, nail clippers, tweezers, or toothbrushes, or during pregnancy or delivery.
- The hepatitis B virus can live on surfaces outside of the body for at least seven days, so it’s important to not share any of the items mentioned above.
Ok...
How do I protect myself?
- The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective.
- Practicing safer sex like using barrier methods.
- Not sharing items that might be exposed to blood such as personal hygiene items like toothbrushes, tweezers, razors, or nail clippers.
- Avoid sharing medical or injection equipment, works or needles. Learn more about injection safety.
Where can I get vaccinated?
A healthcare provider can answer questions about getting vaccinated. Vaccines are offered at most health clinics and pharmacies. Some locations offer free or low-cost vaccines for people without health insurance.
Click below to find a vaccinating pharmacy or clinic:
Hepatitis B & HIV
People living with HIV have an increased chance of contracting hepatitis B. Co-infection, or exposure to both hepatitis B and HIV, can be prevented by using a barrier method during sex and by using new injection equipment each time. People living with HIV who contract hepatitis B have an increased risk of liver-related illness and death. While both infections can be treated at the same time, co-infection can accelerate the progression of both illnesses.
Hepatitis C
Hmm...
How do I know if I have it?
Most people will not have any symptoms, which is why the best way to find out is to get tested for hepatitis C. For those that do,
Symptoms may include:
- Yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes (this is referred to as jaundice)
- Dark urine (pee)
- Grey colored feces (poop)
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Extreme fatigue and weakness
How do I get tested?
Testing for hepatitis C can be done through a blood draw or a finger stick and takes two tests to tell if a person has an active hepatitis C infection.
An antibody test (a finger stick test) detects if there has ever been hepatitis C virus in the blood. If hepatitis C antibodies are detected, a second blood test may be needed to detect an active infection. This can be done at a health clinic or a lab.
Uh...
How do I get treated?
- There is a cure for hepatitis C.
- Your healthcare provider can prescribe medications that help the body clear, or cure, the infection within as little as 8- 12 weeks.
- Most people are eligible for medication and can be cured of hepatitis C.
Well...
How is it transmitted?
- Hepatitis C spreads when blood from someone living with hepatitis C enters the bloodstream of someone who is not infected.
- Having vaginal or anal sex without a barrier like a condom can also spread hepatitis C as semen and vaginal fluids also contain the virus.
- Sharing needles or injection equipment, or sharing personal hygiene items such as razors, tweezers, nail clippers, and toothbrushes are also ways the virus can spread.
Ok...
How do I protect myself?
- There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.
- Hepatitis C can be prevented by using barrier methods like condoms during anal and vaginal sex and by avoiding direct contact with blood from another person.
- Don’t share injection equipment such as needles, syringes, cottons, cookers, and tourniquets or personal hygiene items, such as toothbrushes, nail clippers, tweezers, or razors which could have other people’s blood on them.
- The hepatitis C virus can live outside of the body and on surfaces for up to six weeks, depending on the environment.
Hepatitis C & HIV
Using condoms during sex will help reduce the risk of infection. People living with HIV who contract hepatitis C have an increased risk of liver-related illness and death. While both infections can be treated at the same time, coinfection can accelerate the progression of both viruses therefore curing hepatitis C will lead to better health outcomes as that progression is halted. Individuals living with HIV can be cured of hepatitis C. Having HIV does not decrease hepatitis C cure rates.
Hepatitis D
Hmm...
How do I know if I have it?
Getting hepatitis D can trigger symptoms in people who didn’t have any and can worsen the symptoms for people already having them.
Symptoms may include:
- Yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes (this is referred to as jaundice)
- Dark urine (pee)
- Grey colored feces (poop)
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Extreme fatigue and weakness
How do I get tested?
Hepatitis D is diagnosed with a blood test that can detect antibodies in blood. If hepatitis D antibodies are found, it means there has been an exposure to the virus.
Uh...
How do I get treated?
There are a number of treatments for hepatitis D. It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider so they can determine what course of action is best as every individual is different.
- Not everyone with hepatitis D needs to be treated.
- For those that do require treatment, there are several treatment options to keep the infection from progressing into a serious illness.
Well...
How is it transmitted?
- Hepatitis D is contracted by people who already have the hepatitis B virus, so someone must be living with hepatitis B in order to contract hepatitis D.
- People may contract hepatitis B and hepatitis D at the same time.
- Both hepatitis D and hepatitis B spread when blood, semen, or vaginal fluids containing the virus enter the body, including through childbirth.
- This can happen through vaginal or anal sex without a condom, sharing injection equipment, or by sharing personal hygiene items such as razors, nail clippers, tweezers or toothbrushes.
Ok...
How do I protect myself?
- Getting the hepatitis B vaccine is the best form of protection against becoming infected with hepatitis D. This is because only people who have hepatitis B can become infected with hepatitis D.
- For those living with hepatitis B, use protection like condoms when having sex and avoid direct contact with blood from another person.
- Don’t share personal hygiene items such as razors, tweezers, toothbrushes, and nail clippers or injection equipment such as needles and works, which could have other people’s blood on them, even if they look clean.
Where can I get vaccinated?
A healthcare provider can answer questions about getting vaccinated. Vaccines are offered at most health clinics and pharmacies. Some locations offer free or low-cost vaccines for people without health insurance.
Click below to find a vaccinating pharmacy or clinic:
Hepatitis D & HIV
Co-infection with hepatitis B, hepatitis D, and HIV is possible. Using condoms during sex will help to reduce the risk of contracting these viruses. People living with HIV who contract hepatitis B and hepatitis D have an increased risk of liver-related illness and death. While these infections can be treated at the same time, co-infection can accelerate the progression of these illnesses.
COMMON STIs AND OTHER INFECTIONS
Read more about the most common STIs and other infections below to know how to get tested and treated.
Syphilis is an STI that starts as a painless sore. It can cause many different symptoms including rash, swollen lymph nodes and even brain damage and blindness.
Chlamydia is an STI that may include painful urination and abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina.
Gonorrhea is an STI that causes painful urination and discharge. If untreated it may cause infertility.
Mpox is spread through close, physical contact between individuals. Symptoms can include rashes, bumps, or blisters.
Vaginitis is a term that covers multiple conditions that are not always transmitted through sex.
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is often caused by a virus and there are many different kinds.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are many different types of HPV, some more serious than others. The good thing is that there is a vaccine to prevent many types of HPV. Learn more