• What Is Hepatitis B?

• 
  What Is Hepatitis B?
  • Hepatitis B Facts and Figures
  • Hepatitis B Symptoms
  • Acute vs. Chronic Hepatitis B
• The ABCs of Viral Hepatitis
• 
  Liver Cancer and Hepatitis B
  • Liver Cancer Awareness Month
  • Liver Cancer Awareness Month Media Toolkit
• Hepatitis Delta Coinfection
• Hepatitis C Coinfection
• HIV/AIDS Coinfection
• 
  Frequently Asked Questions about Hepatitis B
  • What is hepatitis B?
  • Why is hepatitis B so dangerous?
  • Is there a cure for hepatitis B?
  • What treatments (medicines) are available for chronic hepatitis B?
  • If the currently approved hepatitis B drugs do not provide a cure, then how are they helping?
  • What can I do if I live in the U.S. and the insurance co-pay for my hepatitis B drugs costs too much for me to buy them?
  • Is there any special diet for people living with chronic hepatitis B infection?
  • What blood tests are important to diagnose and evaluate my hepatitis B infection?
  • Does everyone with chronic hepatitis B need to take medicine?
  • Will herbals, natural “remedies”, Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine, supplements, or vitamins and minerals control hepatitis B?
  • If I don’t need to take medicine for my hepatitis B at this time, what must I do to support my liver?
  • Can a hepatitis B infection be prevented? How can I protect my loved ones?
  • Is the hepatitis B vaccine safe?
  • Is the hepatitis B vaccine safe during pregnancy?
  • Can I catch hepatitis B from the vaccine?
  • If I started the vaccine series but didn't complete my 2nd or 3rd dose on schedule, do I have to start over?
  • I received my vaccine years ago--am I still protected?
  • Should I get the hepatitis B vaccine if I have a chronic HBV infection or have recovered from a past infection?
  • Where can I get vaccinated against hepatitis B in the USA?
  • What should I do if I am diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B?
  • I am diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, can I get married and have children?
  • I am currently pregnant, and I have chronic hepatitis B. What should I do to protect my baby?
  • Can I donate blood if I have hepatitis B?
  • If I have chronic hepatitis B infection, can I hug my children, partner or friend?
  • I’m in love, when and how do I tell my (prospective) partner that I have hepatitis B?
  • If hepatitis B is sexually transmitted, how come my partner isn’t infected?
  • If chronic hepatitis B is a silent disease, why do I have symptoms?
  • Sometimes I feel sad and depressed because of my hepatitis B status, what should I do?
  • What is the likelihood that someone infected with hepatitis B will develop liver cancer?
  • I’m living with hepatitis B, what should I do to reduce my risk of developing liver cancer?
  • My country does not have a clinical trial for hepatitis B. Is it possible to travel to another country to participate?
  • I keep hearing about a “Functional Cure” for chronic hepatitis B, what does this mean?

I’m in love, when and how do I tell my (prospective) partner that I have hepatitis B?

This is not an easy situation, and it is a challenge that is shared by many people living with hepatitis B.

Before you share your hepatitis B status, you should be prepared. Make sure you are well-informed, because once you share the information, there will be questions you’ll need to answer. Have easy-to-understand resources, like Hepatitis B Foundation website pages, fact sheets or blogs, flagged or printed and ready to share. Additionally, you need to be prepared mentally for all sorts of reactions (both yours and theirs). People may feel supportive, surprised, fearful, or even angry. It is a good idea to talk to others with hepatitis B before you have this conversation, to get suggestions and advice. Talking to someone who has experienced this can help – and there are many people at www.hepbcommunity.org who will have had to disclose their hepatitis B to partners and other loved ones.

Regardless of how the situation unfolds, please know that hepatitis B does not define who you are or what you can do! And be prepared that your relationship may change. If you find that your prospective partner is not receptive, you may learn that you’re better off without this person, as there are many challenges occurring in a lifetime. It’s important to have a supportive partner!

You can find in-depth response to this important question on these blog articles:

Romance in the Air? Take a deep breath and disclose

How do I Share My Hepatitis B Status

Dating and Hepatitis B – A personal perspective  

 

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Find more Frequently Asked Questions here. 

 

Page updated 12/27/2022