My wife has hepatitis B: can I get it?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can remain unnoticed while affecting the liver. It can pass through infected blood, semen, and vaginal fluids, including during sex or when shared items carry blood. Do not share razors, toothbrushes, needles, or equipment used for injections. Ordinary household contact such as hugging, sharing food, or sitting together does not spread it. A person may have no symptoms; when symptoms occur, they can include tiredness, nausea, abdominal discomfort, yellowing of the skin, or Dark Urine.

Arrange a medical appointment for hepatitis B blood tests, even if you feel well. Ask whether you need a Liver Function Test and whether your partner’s clinician can clarify her infection status and treatment plan. If you are not protected, ask promptly about Hepatitis B Vaccination. Until your status is clear, use condoms and avoid contact with blood; cover cuts and clean blood spills safely. If a recent blood or sexual exposure occurred, seek urgent advice because preventive treatment may be time-sensitive.

Get urgent advice after a needlestick, shared injection equipment, or contact between infected blood and broken skin, eyes, or mouth. Seek prompt care for yellow skin or eyes, severe vomiting, confusion, marked sleepiness, or worsening abdominal pain. These symptoms can signal liver inflammation and need assessment rather than waiting for routine testing.

Which hepatitis B tests do I need, and what do their results mean? Am I vaccinated or immune? Do I need a booster, follow-up liver checks, or advice about sex and household precautions?