Hepatitis B

What it is

Hepatitis B is caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). HBV is much more infectious than HIV and can be transmitted through sexual contact and contact with blood or blood-stained saliva and urine.

Symptoms

Many people with Hepatitis B will not have any symptoms. Others will have flu-like symptoms and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).

How it is treated

There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis B but there is a vaccine against the virus available at Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics. Most people with Hepatitis B recover completely after rest, but in some cases there may be long-term liver damage.

Find out how to protect yourself against STIs.