Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

How can I tell to my boyfriend that I have Hep B?

hi there, Sheryl here.

I want to also share my experience about having HepB. I am only 22years old and have 1 daughter. I did not know where i got it. The father of my child haven't been tested if he has the HepB aswell. We separated 2 years ago and I was single for that span of time and no sex. I have a boyfriend now and we had sex for twice already and once w/ out condom. I am afraid that he might get HepB and leave me if i told him about it. How can i tell him about this?

Thank you
27 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
You need to disclose your HBV status. In many countries if you knowingly infect somebody with HBV, HIV, HCV it is a felony.

How to be people get HBV? well from other people via sex, poorly sanitized dental or surgical tools, kids can get it even from sharing a drink. If you don't recall heaving strange flue like symptoms with yellowing of the skin and urine turning dark brown-beer color. If you don't remember profound fatigue of not being able to get out of bed, then you probably had Hep B since you were a child. It is really hard to say when you were exposed to it.

Maybe it was your ex husband that gave it to you.. now it is not important. What is important is telling your boyfriend your status.

He will freak out of course as all people do, but just tell him that if he does not have it, a vaccine will protect him. And he needs to be vaccinated immediately in order to have relations with you.

Also you need to get all your HBV markers get tested.. so you know your status. And if you have active disease pretty good treatments are available. Young people tend to do good with interferon clearing hbv in 6-12 months on it. Very tough treatment but better then taking anti HIV agents for ever till they come up with a cure. And cure for us is around 5-7 years away.  I am probably the very rich people can get these newer agents they are testing now.. but the rest of us have to wait.

But with HepB if it is an active disease the earlier you treat the better the chance. The longer you wait the more damage it does.

As far as your boyfriend  goes, if he is clear of HBV get him vaccinated and he has nothing to worry about.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Because of the stigma still around sexually transmitted disease it can be very difficult to tell a partner about your medical challenges.  But remember this

~~one of the greatest qualities you can find in a partner is someone who will support you through any situation you may encounter in life.  Someone who will stand by you no matter what because they love you for who you are.

If you tell your partner, and they react badly, give it a little time for the freak-out to ware off and have another discussion with a little education, many people calm down when they understand how Hep B is not a death sentence, and that vaccination can protect against it.  

If your partner still reacts badly, it may be a blessing in disguise,  because you want to be with someone who will be a pillar of support through out your life no matter what.  With medical treatment these days there is a great possibility you can be even healthier than your partner depending on your lifestyle.  If your partner can not support you through this what else will your partner react badly too in your journey together in the moments you share?

Hep B is not that big of a concern for relationships in my honest opinion.  Your disease does not define who you are.  Be proud of all that you are and embrace all challenges that life throws at you, they make you a stronger person.  If your partner does not see all of your strengths and see the beauty that is you than let them go and continue to love your self - you will attract someone who will love you because you are you -  

Be fearless, Courageous, Selfless, and know that you are Loved ~~
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
How did you tell your spouse you had hepatitis B? I mean what strategies you took? How difficult was it?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I completely agree with you, most of ppl here dont have good knowledge about Hep B, there is very low chance to speard over the sex, i have known about 10 couples around me, their spouses contracted with Hep B but they are totally clean, even they have been living together for years, have kids. But better to use condoms till both of you know that you guys are safe for each other, tell him to get vaccined if you want unprotected sex.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yeah, thank u so much.. :) Im really happy right now..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
well done... you see words are really worth!!!!!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi i feel totally fine. superb..i am also really happy with the result of my boyfriend's lab tests.. His non-reactive in hepB.. :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
but how do you feel right now? dont you notice  any unusual signs or symptoms  in your body.,?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi to all.. I got my Lab tests already. As per my doctor, i am still a carrier but the virus is just sleeping and no need for any medications. I'll have my check up again after 6 mos.. Im so happy.. and w/ regards to my boyfriend, we're still waiting for his results as well and my doctor told me that there is a really small chance of him getting it.. :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
guys...i hav researchd alot,wd virus its lyk u r nt living......ov all wht i learned is the combination of medical and herbal treatmnt, first prepar urself fr fght wd virus,whn u get ready.....thn strt wd medcine bt u hav to tak very goood balnce diet ...protein,carbohydrat and less fat....nd multivitamin......strt wd a antiviral,,entecavir once daily...nd vit d3 once week,and calcium supllemnt,natazoxide thrice daily ,sillimaryin once daily,nd thymus extract,genseng herb once daily,,,all this ll work against virus and built up ur immune sys,try ths
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No, he didn't catch it but I'm Hbeag negative. Now he's getting the necessary vaccines because that's the right thing to do
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, when i gave birth to my daughter, my doctor asked my ex to get a vaccination within 24hrs after  i gave birth, they had a hard time looking for that kind of vaccine bec it is only offered in a few hospitals here and fortunately they found one hospital who has it and successfull vaccinated my daughter. She is complete w/ all HepB vaccine.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, thank you for the comment. Yeah, i already have talked to him about this issue and we are planning to have him tested asap. Meaning you have this HepB but ur husband didnt catch it?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, yeah. I was already tested and it is not active. I am just requires by my doctor to go see him every 6 months. Thank u so much for the info. My boyfriend already know and we will have him tested asap.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I got test result, doctor told me I am Hep B pos but I need to undergo more tests. I am 30, healthy, I dont drink or smoke either, is it chance I can clear my HBV?? Or If I am chronic I really got it much much earlier, if so, why I didnt know it even 5 years ago I was tested for viral deseases??? I am confused! Thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi Sheryl, I understand you perfectly.  

Do not worry,as people told here, hbv gets chronic only if infected at birth, as I was, or early childhood.. so even if he has not antibodies he can be infeceted and clear hbs by developing hbsab (ab standf fot AntiBodies).

Anihow be fair and transparent with him about HBV, teach him what ii is and gets him to realize he can be immune so you can have unprotected sexual intercourse.

btw, is your daughetr a carrier tooo.. did she undergo vaccination at birth?

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Jiyashe, you should have told your partner about your status and make sure you will tell this to your future partners.
Regarding sexually transmited hbv I'm not sure what to say, I justtell you my own experience, my husband didn't catch it from me and we had many unprotected intercourses. Now he's undergoing vaccination.
My mom has the virus as well and my dad didn't catch it either even if they had never used protection. (my dad was a blood donor).
Yes, about 95% healthy adults will clear hbv.
But we should inform our partners about every disease we have because that's exactly what we expect from them, right?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Rome is correct for 95% of adults with healthy immune systems hbv is not an issue. People will recover.

It is an issue for people with hiv htlv lupus diabetics  and undergoing a chemotherapy. In the settings of hiv htlv and chemotherapy it is observed that patients who have recovered from hbv have antibodies loss and reappearance of the virus.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes if he is not infected himself he will not have to worry about it after 3-6  following vaccination. When he develops fully protective antibodies. He may be vaccinated against hbv allready since your age group was supposed to be anyway. Hbv vaccine now is a standard part of all child immunizations. Our age group  in their late 30s we were not required to get it.

So your man should go test for HepB if he is not immuned to it he should be vaccinated against. In 3-6 months following testing to see his antibodies levels if he has reached protective lovels you both can have unprotected sex.

You should get all your hbv markers tested to know your stage of the disease and if it is active I recommend you treat it if you want to live a full life.

Chronic HBV is aids of the liver just remember that. But treatments are available and in 5 years we may actually see cures they have now in research setting become available for us all.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi veteranB, thanks for the reply. I totally forgot about it bec i dont have any relationship for the past 2 years. If he will be vaccinated, he will not have any tendency to have this?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Of course you can get acute hbv very easily, that is nothing pleasant either, but not CRONIC.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Of course people need to inform their sexual partners about HBV, but what I am telling, is that you can not practically get Chronic hbv via sexual contact, unless you are enjoying chemotherapy the same time or have HIV. 95% of people get chronic infection in the very young age, it is well established fact now.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Rome 70 what are you talking about? Blame my parents! They have no trace of hep b neither does my sister. If it is not transmitted sexually why is it classified as a std/sti and why do people who have hep b need to inform there partners to get vaccinated before any sexuall activity?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Condoms dont protect. It is a myth spread by the condom manufacturers. Google the German research  on this where they say hiv goes through the condom pores. Viruses are tiny. Best solution against hbv is to get vaccinated.

Yeah these days if you meet somebody you like both people need test for everything  before engaging in the fun activities. This is the reality of today. And knowing this I dont know how can the drug companies take freaken so long to test new drugs.
Helpful - 0
2
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis B Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.