Hepatitis symptoms, testing and treatment

Condoms can lower your risk of hepatitis, but vaccination is your best protection.

Hepatitis is a serious liver infection caused by a virus. It can be transmitted sexually or other ways.

Make an appointment at any of our clinics in Greater Victoria to get tested for hepatitis, or to find out more.

There are different types of hepatitis that can be transmitted through sexual contact.

is highly infectious
is spread by oral-fecal contamination, for example through unwashed hands during food preparation or through sexual contact such as anal intercourse or anal-oral sexual activity (“rimming”).
is preventable by vaccination. The vaccine is free for high risk populations in British Columbia, and is available at public health clinics, travel clinics, doctor’s offices and some treatment centres.

can be very infectious
can cause both acute and chronic infection
is spread through body fluids including blood, semen, vaginal fluid, saliva and breast milk
can be transmitted by sexual contact; sharing of drug equipment; sharing personal hygiene items such as razors, toothbrushes, scissors; and by tattoos and piercing
is preventable through vaccination. In BC there are universal vaccination programs for grade 6 students (since 1991) and infants (since 2000). the vaccine is available at public health clinics, travel clinics, doctor’s offices and some treatment centres. Hepatitis B vaccinations are free for many in British Columbia.

can cause both acute and chronic infection
is usually spread by contact with infected blood although is can be spread through other body fluids such as semen, vaginal fluid, and saliva and breast milk
main mode of transmission is IV drug use (sharing of drug equipment-needles, straws, etc.)
can also be spread (lower risk) through tatoos and piercing, sexual activity, sharing sharps such as razors, scissors, tooth brushes, etc.
no vaccine is available to prevent Hep C

This page was last updated on Jul 17, 2006.