for Veterans and the Public
How can you protect yourself against hepatitis B?
High-risk behaviors are things that some people do that make them more likely to get a disease. You can get hepatitis B through contact with (or by touching) the blood of a person who has the disease. You can also get hepatitis B through contact with other body fluids like semen and vaginal fluids. For example, you can get hepatitis B by having sex or sharing needles with a person who has the disease.
Tips:
- Practice safer sex. Use condoms every time you have sex.
- Don't shoot drugs. If you are using drugs now, try to get help to stop. VA has programs to help you. If you cannot stop, then don't share needles and works.
- Don't share personal care items like razors, toothbrushes, and nail clippers
If you can stop high-risk behaviors like these, it can also prevent you from getting other viruses like HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and hepatitis C virus. Please speak with your doctor or nurse to get more information about these viruses.