Which Hepatitis Is An Std
Hepatitis A, B, and C can be sexually transmitted.
- Hepatitis A: Although the fecal-oral route is common for hepatitis A, the virus can also be transmitted from any sexual activity. The use of condoms does not effectively prevent the spread of hepatitis A.
- Hepatitis B: Sexual contact is the most common mode of Hepatitis B transmission in the United States. Compared to HIV, a hepatitis B infection is 50 to 100 times more likely to be transmitted sexually. The transmission risk is higher among unvaccinated people with risk behaviors like having multiple sex partners and men having sex with men .
- Hepatitis C: The Hepatitis C virus may be transmitted via sexual contact. However, studies have shown that such transmission is very rare. A higher rate of sexual transmission of the hepatitis C infection is seen in MSM, especially those who practice unprotected anal intercourse and have an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus .
What About Immunocompetent Individuals
If thats the case in HIV positive patients and immunocompromised patients, what happens if your immune system works as it should? This is more difficult to ascertain because, unlike HIV patients, immunocompetent patients do not get routinely tested with hepatitis C. The data is not easy to obtain, but the incidence is definitely lower . That is 0.04 to 0.15 infections for every 100 patients. In other words, for every 1000 patients having sex with an infected patient, one of them will get the disease via sexual intercourse.
Todays incidence of sexual transmission of hepatitis C in healthy people is the same as those we used to have in HIV patients in the past. This prevalence is higher in some countries, especially in the United States and Canada, but results that show this trend may be tainted by the incidence of injected drug use.
Hiv And Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C Coinfection
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are liver infections caused by a virus. Because these infections can be spread in the same ways as HIV, people with HIV in the United States are often also affected by chronic viral hepatitis.
Viral hepatitis progresses faster and causes more liver-related health problems among people with HIV than among those who do not have HIV. Liver disease, much of which is related to HBV or HCV, is a major cause of non-AIDS-related deaths among people with HIV.
Given the risks of hepatitis B or hepatitis C coinfection to the health of people living with HIV, it is important to understand these risks, take steps to prevent infection, know your status, and, if necessary, get medical care from someone who is experienced in treating people who are coinfected with HIV and HBV, or HIV and HCV.
Also Check: Who Should Get Tested For Hepatitis C
What Are The Symptoms Of Stds
STDs may not always cause symptoms. Even if a person has no symptoms from an STD, it is still possible to pass the STD on to other people.
Talk to your health care provider about getting tested for STDs and ask your sex partner to do the same.
To find STD information and testing sites near you, call CDC-INFO at 1-800-232-4636 or visit CDC’s GetTested webpage.
Men Who Have Sex With Men
In a nutshell, there is an increased risk of sexual transmission for men who have sex with men .
It is estimated that up to 5 per cent of gay men and men who have sex with other men have hep C, compared with 1 per cent of the general population. Around 13 per cent of people with HIV in Australia also have hep C.
Among men who have sex with men, the risk of hep C being transmitted is higher if one or more partners has HIV, or if the sex involves blood-to-blood contact, of if they have other STIs, or if recreational drugs are used.
To reduce the risks:
- use condoms and lots of lube for anal sex
- wear gloves and use lots of lube for fisting
- use condoms on toys and change them between partners, or wash toys with hot soapy water and dry them between partners
- if affected by alcohol or recreational drugs, your judgement around risks will be impaired and youll have decreased inhibitions so take special care to avoid blood-to-blood contact.
Some men choose not to use condoms when having sex with other men who believe they have the same HIV status. This is called sero-sorting and can further increase peoples risk of contracting hep C.
For more information about anything in this factsheet, phone the Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 803 990.
You May Like: Home Remedies For Hepatitis C In Urdu
Sexual Transmission And Hepatitis C
Although not common, hepatitis C can be transmitted through sexual activity. Having a sexually transmitted infection, having sex with multiple partners, and engaging in anal sex appear to increase a persons risk for hepatitis C. MSM with multiple sex partners who are coinfected with HCV and HIV have been shown to transmit hepatitis C. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The best way to prevent hepatitis C is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease, especially sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. CDC recommends one-time hepatitis C testing of all adults and regular testing for people with risk factors. The American Association for the Study of Liver Disease and the Infectious Diseases Society of America also recommend that people who are infected with HCV be provided with curative, direct-acting antiviral medicationsexternal icon to treat their HCV infection.
How To Prevent Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by a virus . It can be serious and theres no cure, but the good news is its easy to prevent. You can protect yourself by getting the hepatitis B vaccine and having safer sex. If you have oral, anal, and vaginal sex, use condoms and dental dams to help stop the spread of hepatitis B and other STDs.
Recommended Reading: Where To Get Hepatitis B Test
Can Vaccines Prevent The Sexual Transmission Of Hepatitis
- Hepatitis A: Measures used to prevent the spread of STDs, like the use of condoms, do not prevent hepatitis A transmission. Fortunately, an effective vaccine for preventing Hepatitis A transmission is available and is the most important measure to protect people at risk of infection.
- Hepatitis B: A hepatitis B vaccine safely and effectively protects against infection of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have recommended the hepatitis B vaccination for:
- Sexually active people who are not in long-term, mutually monogamous relationships .
- People seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease.
- CDC also recommends hepatitis B testing and hepatitis B vaccination for
- Sexual partners of people with hepatitis B.
Risk Factors For Acquiring Hepatitis C During Sexual Intercourse
People who get hepatitis C during sexual intercourse is not the majority, but studies have shown that they share certain traits. The most critical risk factor is being HIV positive or having a disease that affects our immune system. Additional risk factors have been studied as well, but mostly in HIV-positive patients. These risk factors are as follows:
- High-risk sexual behavior: This includes unprotected sex, especially anal intercourse, sexual toy sharing, group sex, unprotected fisting, and chemsex. They all increase the chance of acquiring hepatitis C via sexual activity by increasing our contact with blood, multiple sexual partners, and other conditions.
- Other sexually transmitted diseases: According to studies, other sexually-transmitted conditions may also increase the risk. HIV is an obvious association discussed above, but were talking about other non-HIV infections such as herpes, gonorrhea, and others. One of the most important sexually transmitted diseases that increase the risk of passing down hepatitis C is Herpes Simplex Virus type 2.
- Bleeding: In most cases, it is rectal bleeding, but it can be genital bleeding as well. Patients and healthy individuals with an active bleeding episode share a higher chance of hepatitis C transmission.
Recommended Reading: Ok Google How Do You Get Hepatitis C
How Can You Prevent Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C
Hepatitis B: Vaccination is the best way to prevent all of the ways that hepatitis B is transmitted. People with HIV who do not have active HBV infection should be vaccinated against it. In addition to the 3-dose series of hepatitis B vaccine given over 6 months, as of 2017, there is a 2-dose series given over 1 month.
Hepatitis C: No vaccine exists for HCV and no effective pre- or postexposure prophylaxis is available. The best way to prevent hepatitis C infection is to never inject drugs or to stop injecting drugs by getting into and staying in drug treatment. If you continue injecting drugs, always use new, sterile needles or syringes, and never reuse or share needles or syringes, water, or other drug preparation equipment.
Building Healthy Sexual Relationships
Rule number one for a healthy sexual relationship: Be open and honest with your partners. I believe in transparency, says Talal. This conversation can be difficult, but its important to have. Part of discussing your status is talking about what exposure you may have had to hepatitis C, even in the distant past.
Its a good opportunity for you both to share your sexual history, as well as your experiences with other ways hepatitis C can be transmitted, such as using injection drugs or being exposed to items that may have blood on them, including needles, razors, and toothbrushes.
Sherman explains that even if you consistently use condoms during sex, other activities, such as sharing needles to inject drugs or sharing straws to snort them, increase your risk of spreading hepatitis C. People do not want to hear about this, he says. Its difficult to get the word out about risk.
If you and your partner find that hepatitis C is disrupting your relationship or your sex life, you might also consider working with a marriage and family therapist or a sex therapist.
Also Check: What Is Hepatitis B Surface Antibody
Ethics Approval And Consent To Participate
All conditions and populations tested are considered indicator conditions and at-risk populations for HIV/HCV and STI and routine testing is considered part of the medical care in line with the European and National testing guidelines. The pilots focused on implementation of the guidelines and consent was given orally except from in Romania, where written consent is required by law. Each pilot site was responsible for obtaining ethical approval if required. The pilots did not collect any patient identifiable data, all data was submitted in aggregated form.
Giving Blood And Organ Donation
If you have hepatitis C, you cannot give blood.
In a recent research study in America kidneys from people with hepatitis C who had died were transplanted into patients who did not have the virus.
All of the recipients subsequently contracted hepatitis C but were treated for it and all were cured. The benefit of receiving a kidney outweighed the risk of not clearing hepatitis C.
You May Like: Is Hepatitis B The Same As Hiv
Limitations And Mitigation Strategies
Most evaluations face constraints that may affect the validity and reliability of findings and conclusions. The following table outlines the limitations encountered during the implementation of the selected methods for this evaluation. Also noted are the mitigation strategies put in place to ensure that the evaluation findings can be used with confidence to guide program planning and decision making.
How Can I Protect Myself And Others
- Never share injecting drug equipment or things that may have blood on them such as toothbrushes and razors. Also avoid sharing straws or rolled up banknotes if snorting drugs with others.
- Use condoms for anal and vaginal sex and latex gloves for fisting.
- During group sex, cover anything which goes from one partner to another with a fresh condom or fresh latex glove for each new person it enters. Clean objects with warm water and anti-bacterial soap before using on a new partner.
- Dont share enema equipment or pots of lubricant.
If you have hepatitis C you may want to tell a partner and explain that youre infectious. They can then decide if they’re happy to take any risks and whether they want to take precautions. That way they cannot accuse you of infecting them without them knowing that the risk was there.
Also Check: Can Chronic Hepatitis B Be Cured
How It’s Passed On
The hepatitis C virus is found in blood and is passed on when infected blood gets into another persons bloodstream. Its seen as unlikely that it can be passed on in semen.
Most people get the virus from sharing drug injecting equipment such as needles, syringes, water cups, tourniquets, spoons, filters and swabs. Sharing things like straws and banknotes that are used for snorting drugs might pass the virus on, as can sharing pipes.
In the UK piercing and tattooing should be safe but unsterilised equipment abroad can spread the virus.
An infected person risks infecting others if they share anything that might have blood on it like a toothbrush or razor. A pregnant woman with the virus can give it to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth.
Blood transfusions in the UK are safe as blood is screened.
You can also potentially get it from medical or dental treatment abroad in countries where hepatitis C is common and infection control is inadequate.
How Are Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C Spread From Person To Person
Like HIV, the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses spread:
- From mother to child: Pregnant women can pass these infections to their infants. HIV-HCV coinfection increases the risk of passing on hepatitis C to the baby.
- Sexually: Both viruses can also be transmitted sexually, but HBV is much more likely than HCV to be transmitted sexually. Sexual transmission of HCV is most likely to happen among gay and bisexual men who are living with HIV.
Read Also: What Is Autoimmune Hepatitis C
What Is Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a condition that causes liver inflammation. The main cause of hepatitis liver inflammation is due to bacteria or virus reaction. The conditions of hepatitis can cause several other symptoms fibrosis, liver failure, and cancer. Liver damage can make it hard to eliminate toxins from the body.
What Is An Std
STD stands for sexually transmitted disease. STDs are sometimes called sexually transmitted infections . STDs are infections that spread from person to person through sexual activity, including anal, vaginal, or oral sex. STDs are caused by bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
HIV is an STD. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus infection, and syphilis are examples of other STDs.
Also Check: Is Hepatitis C Contagious Mayo Clinic
How Do You Test For Hepatitis C
A simple blood test carried out by a healthcare professional will show whether you have the virus. You may also be given an extra test to see if your liver is damaged.
If youve got hepatitis C you should be tested for other STIs. It’s important that you tell your recent sexual partner/s so they can also get tested and treated. Many people who have hepatitis C do not notice anything wrong, and by telling them you can help to stop the virus being passed on. It can also stop you from getting the infection again.
Could I Give It To Other People
Yes. As long as you carry the virus, you can infect others. You may pass it on to your sex partner, to those who live in close contact with you, and to those who share your needles for injecting drugs. All of these contacts should be examined by a doctor. If they are not yet infected, they should be vaccinated.
Pregnant women who are carriers may pass hepatitis B on to their babies around the time of birth. Most infected infants become carriers. A pregnant woman should have a test for hepatitis B at her first visit to a doctor. If she is a carrier, the infant can be vaccinated at birth to protect against infection.
Also Check: How Do You Get Hepatitis A B C
Sexual Transmission And Viral Hepatitis
Certain adults who are sexually active should be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend hepatitis B vaccination for
- sexually active people with more than one sex partner during the previous 6 months
- people seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease
- sex partners of people with hepatitis B and
- men who have sex with men .
CDC recommends one-time hepatitis C testing of all adults and regular testing for people with risk factors.
General Tips For Prevention
Refrain from engaging in IV drug use and be cautious with all procedures that involve needles.
For example, you shouldnt share needles used for tattooing, piercing, or acupuncture. The equipment should always be carefully sterilized for safety. If youre undergoing any of these procedures in another country, always make sure the equipment is sterilized.
Sterile equipment should also be used in a medical or dental setting.
Recommended Reading: Can Hepatitis C Go Away On Its Own
Combinations Of Integrated Testing
The pilot sites implemented different combinations of integrated testing. The Vilnius University Hospital in Lithuania, started out by offering HIV tests to all individuals presenting with one of the following ICs: seborrheic dermatitis, candidiasis, psoriasis, herpes zoster and herpes simplex and STIs, after 10 months of implementation, HCV testing was added to the offer to all individuals presenting with one of the ICs HBV testing was also added the last 6 months of the pilot period to individuals presenting with an STI. At Victor Babes in Romania, individuals presenting with TB were offered an HIV test.
Finally, the risk behaviours alcohol dependency and chemsex were added to the ICT strategy as indicators for testing. People treated for alcohol dependency were included into the existing testing programme and offered integrated HIV/HCV testing. Chemsex-users presenting at one of the facilities in the referral network, were referred for integrated HIV, HCV and STI testing.