My Partner Has Hepatitis B. Can I Get It?

Learning that your partner has hepatitis B is worrying, but there is a lot you can do. Hepatitis B can pass between partners, and it can also be prevented with a vaccine. What matters now is finding out your own status.

Can I get hepatitis B from my partner?

Yes, it is possible. CDC says hepatitis B spreads when blood, semen or certain other body fluids from a person with the virus enter the body of someone who isn’t infected, even in microscopic amounts. CDC lists sexual contact as one of the main ways it spreads, along with childbirth and sharing needles or other injection equipment.

CDC also names sex partners of people with hepatitis B, and people who live with someone who has it, as groups at higher risk. That is why a clinician may want to check you.

Why did I test negative when my partner tested positive?

There are a few possible reasons, and a clinician can tell you which applies to you.

• You may be immune from a vaccine. CDC says blood tests can show that you are immune to hepatitis B because you have been vaccinated.
• You may have been exposed and cleared it. CDC says about 95% of infected adults recover completely from a new infection and do not become chronically infected. Blood tests can show a past infection that has resolved.
• You may not have been infected. A blood test is how you find out.
• It may be too soon to tell. CDC’s clinical page puts the average time from exposure to symptoms at 90 days, with a range of 60 to 150 days. If contact was recent, ask whether to repeat the test.

Don’t assume a single negative result means you are safe forever. Ask what your results mean and whether you need the vaccine.

Do I need to be vaccinated?

Probably, unless your tests show you are already immune. CDC says the best way to prevent hepatitis B is vaccination, and recommends it for all adults 19 to 59 and for adults 60 and older who have risk factors. Sex partners of people with hepatitis B are on CDC’s list of higher-risk groups. CDC calls the vaccine safe, and says most people have no side effects.

Two things to know:

• You need the full series. CDC says you need all of the shots to be fully protected, and the number depends on the brand.
• A late dose is worth a phone call. If one is delayed, ask the clinician or pharmacist who gave you the vaccine how to continue.

The WHO describes the vaccine as safe and effective, offering nearly 100% protection against the virus. MedlinePlus adds that a provider may give a dose after a possible exposure, so mention any recent contact when you call.

If cost is a worry, ask the clinician or pharmacist about vaccine pricing and what your insurance covers before you book.

Can we still have sex?

That is worth discussing with your clinician. Meanwhile, condoms reduce the risk. MedlinePlus advises a latex condom during sex, or polyurethane if you or your partner is allergic to latex. The NHS advises a condom or dam for vaginal, anal or oral sex. The WHO also advises people to practice safe sex by using condoms.

A condom doesn’t replace the vaccine, so get tested by ordering a test online, and get vaccinated if you need it.

What about kissing, sharing a home and everyday life?

Everyday contact isn’t a concern. CDC says hepatitis B isn’t spread through kissing or sharing utensils, or through hugging, breastfeeding, or food or water.

The exception is personal items that can carry blood. CDC lists razors and toothbrushes as a less common route, so don’t share them. CDC’s clinical page also says the virus can remain infectious on surfaces for at least 7 days.

Could I already have it without knowing?

Yes. CDC says many people with chronic hepatitis B don’t have symptoms and don’t know they are infected, and the WHO says most people have no symptoms when newly infected. When symptoms do appear, CDC lists tiredness, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, dark urine or clay-coloured stools, and yellow skin or eyes.

That is why a blood test matters more than waiting for symptoms. See hepatitis B and C testing for how the tests work. For how hepatitis C compares, read how you get hepatitis C, and for the differences between all three viruses see hepatitis A, B and C.

If you are pregnant, tell your clinician about your partner’s hepatitis B. CDC recommends screening during each pregnancy.