What does hepatitis-B have to do with gay men?
January 21, 2008
I've heard that men that have sex with men are at risk for hepatitis-B. What is it and why are they at risk?
All men who have sex with men (especially anal sex!) should be vaccinated for Hepatitis-B. It is a potentially lifethreatening disease that is passed through trace amounts of fecal matter. This is most commonly done through anal sex but can be passed along through fingering, sharing dildos, and even through casual contact in the midst of group sex.
Most folks are appropriately concerned with protecting themselves from HIV, but are unaware that Hep-B is much more easily transmitted than the AIDS virus, and doesn't have to be transmitted sexually. You may head to the bathroom to wash your hands after sex, but I'll bet you didn't stop to sterilize the doorknob. Touching that knob days later can re-expose you to the virus. This latter case is a bit extreme but it can happen.
Hepatitis-B isn't as dangerous as AIDS, but still isn't anything to play with. Left untreated, Hep-B can lead to chronic liver problems, cirrhosis, and possibly even liver cancer. Luckily, it's easy to be vaccinated, and relatively inexpensive. The vaccine is commonly given to workers in many professions, so you won't immediately be labeled for doing so. The vaccine involves three shots over seven months, and can be administered at any public health clinic.
I suggest people seeking more information to talk to their doctor, or head over to gayhealth.com.
Most folks are appropriately concerned with protecting themselves from HIV, but are unaware that Hep-B is much more easily transmitted than the AIDS virus, and doesn't have to be transmitted sexually. You may head to the bathroom to wash your hands after sex, but I'll bet you didn't stop to sterilize the doorknob. Touching that knob days later can re-expose you to the virus. This latter case is a bit extreme but it can happen.
Hepatitis-B isn't as dangerous as AIDS, but still isn't anything to play with. Left untreated, Hep-B can lead to chronic liver problems, cirrhosis, and possibly even liver cancer. Luckily, it's easy to be vaccinated, and relatively inexpensive. The vaccine is commonly given to workers in many professions, so you won't immediately be labeled for doing so. The vaccine involves three shots over seven months, and can be administered at any public health clinic.
I suggest people seeking more information to talk to their doctor, or head over to gayhealth.com.
