Contents:
- Medical Video: Hepatitis C and the Cure
- How can sex transmit hepatitis?
- Hepatitis A (HAV)
- Hepatitis B (HBV)
- Hepatitis C (HCV)
- Tips to prevent the risk of transmission of hepatitis through sex
- 1. HAV and HBV vaccines
- 2. Always use a condom
- 3. Avoid risky sexual activities
- 4. Don't change partners
Medical Video: Hepatitis C and the Cure
Hepatitis is a disease that attacks your liver. This disease is caused by a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. Because it is caused by a virus, hepatitis can be transmitted from one person to another. Transmission includes sharing food with hepatitis sufferers, sharing needles, and having sex. However, that does not mean you cannot have sex at all. Transmission of hepatitis through sex can be prevented and suppressed the possibility of having safe sex. To find out more about how sex transmits hepatitis and how to prevent it, read on the following information.
How can sex transmit hepatitis?
Hepatitis caused by a virus is divided into 3 types, namely hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. All three have a risk of transmission through sex. Because the hepatitis virus lives in human body fluids, for example in the blood, semen, rectum fluid (in the anus), and vaginal fluid. If there is contact between body fluids, the virus will move to infect sexual partners. Learn about the various possibilities of transmission of each type of hepatitis below.
Hepatitis A (HAV)
Usually the hepatitis A virus is transmitted through feces. So, the biggest possibility of HAV transmission is through anal sex. However, any contact with the rectum, such as oral-anal, also risks transmitting HAV. The use of condoms alone is not enough to prevent transmission because when removing condoms that have been infected with HAV through anal sex, the virus can move into the hands. It is recommended that sexual partners who do not have HAV have done a hepatitis vaccine before being sexually involved with someone who has HAV.
READ ALSO: Various Things That Can Make Us Infectious Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B (HBV)
Among other types of hepatitis viruses, hepatitis B is the most widely transmitted through sex. Even the possibility of transmission of HBV through sex is far greater than HIV transmission. Because the virus can be found in vaginal fluid, semen, and saliva. Although there have been no examples of cases of HBV transmission through kissing, the risk remains, especially if the person with HBV is having canker sores or there are sores in his mouth and lips. In addition, the risk of contracting this virus through sex is also many times greater if you frequently change sexual partners.
READ ALSO: How Hepatitis B Can Develop into Primary Liver Cancer
Hepatitis C (HCV)
This virus lives in the blood. So, menstrual sex, canker sores, or wounds increase your risk of contracting or contracting hepatitis C. Often changing sexual partners, about more than five people who are different each year, will also increase the risk of contracting HCV. Whereas people who do not change sexual partners have a very small chance of contracting HCV, even if their partner has the disease. According to data compiled by WebMD, there are only 2% of people infected with partners who have HCV in monogamous sexual relationships (not changing partners).
READ ALSO: A Guide for those of you who live with hepatitis C
Tips to prevent the risk of transmission of hepatitis through sex
If you or your partner has certain types of hepatitis, you must always take preventive measures to reduce the risk of transmission. Not that because there is a possibility of transmission of hepatitis through sex, you and your partner cannot make love. Here are tips for safe sex with hepatitis sufferers.
1. HAV and HBV vaccines
When your sexual partner is diagnosed with hepatitis, you should be vaccinated against hepatitis immediately. Currently available vaccines are HAV and HBV vaccines, while for HCV there is no vaccine. However, even if you have been vaccinated does not mean the risk of transmission is completely gone. When making love you and your partner still have to practice safe sex.
2. Always use a condom
Whatever sexual activity is done with a partner, you should always use a condom. Try to choose a condom made from latex that is not given a flavor or fragrance for maximum protection. Avoid using vaginal lubrication because it can damage the quality of condoms, especially if the lubricant is made from oil.
READ ALSO: Get to Know the Different Types of Condoms and Plus Minus
3. Avoid risky sexual activities
You should not engage in sexual activities that can increase the likelihood of transmission, such as making love during menstruation or touching parts of the body that are currently injured. Avoid sexual activity that is quite rough because it can cause blisters or cuts. It would also be wise if you and your partner do not share or use the same sex toys. If you use each sex toy and make sure there is no contact between the sex toy with your partner at all, always wash and clean with boiling water afterwards.
4. Don't change partners
Making love with one partner who has hepatitis is safer than some people who may not have hepatitis. Because, sometimes the symptoms and signs of hepatitis cannot be recognized. If you are accustomed to changing sexual partners, you also become more susceptible to the dangers of transmission of hepatitis through sex.
