Hepatitis and the LGBT Community

Viral hepatitis is a serious infection that affects the liver. It can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death. Although hepatitis can affect anyone, men who have sex with men are at particular risk for two distinct types of the virus—hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

Hepatitis A is spread primarily by contact with contaminated food or water, rimming, handling a used condom or sex toys, or butt play. Hepatitis B is transmitted through bodily fluids (blood, semen, saliva), through unprotected sexual contact and sharing needles. Hepatitis C is spread predominantly through sharing needles, non-sterile piercings and tattoos. For hepatitis C, there is no vaccine and no cure.

Common early symptoms of hepatitis are extreme fatigue, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, losing the desire to smoke, jaundice, dark urine and sometimes a dull abdominal pain. Hepatitis can be easily spread during the initial infection period during which you may exhibit no symptoms at all but will be highly contagious.

Here’s what you can do to lower your risk of contracting hepatitis:

• Get vaccinated! There are now safe and effective vaccines available to protect you against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Getting vaccinated is a simple way you can protect your health. Make certain to complete the series of vaccines (three for hepatitis A and two for hepatitis B, and three for the combined hepatitis A/hepatitis B vaccine) to ensure maximum effectiveness.

• If you’re a woman who has sex with multiple male partners, if you have a chronic liver disease, or if you inject illicit drugs, get vaccinated for hepatitis B. If you are a woman planning to travel in the developing world, get vaccinated for hepatitis A as well.

• If you’re exposed to hepatitis A but not yet immune to it, consult your doctor about getting an immune globulin shot. It may protect you if caught early.

Take charge of your health. You can protect yourself against hepatitis.

[DOWNLOAD HEPATITIS AD—HI RES PDF OR LOW RES PDF| DOWNLOAD HEPATITIS FACTSHEET—HI RES PDF OR LOW RES PDF]

[DOWNLOAD ALL 9 ADS (PDFs) AS ONE FILE—HI RES OR LOW RES | DOWNLOAD ALL 9 FACTSHEETS (PDFs) AS ONE FILE—HI RES OR LOW RES]

PLEASE NOTE: All PDFs on this site require Acrobat Reader 5.0. For a free download of Acrobat Reader 5.0 or for a free upgrade to Acrobat Reader 5.0, please visit the Adobe website at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

"We are truly excited about the possibilities and potential for raising the awareness in our community and beyond around LGBT health in all of its issues. You and your organization's participation will ensure that we will be able to work together in a coordinated way and provide a unified voice at the forefront of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health."

—Cornelius Baker, Co-Chair, Executive Committee National Coalition for LGBT Health

National Coalition for LGBT Health
1407 S Street, NW • Washington, DC 20009 • 202.797.3516/202.797.4430/f
coalition@lgbthealth.net