Someone with hepatitis A is most infectious two weeks before symptoms appear. The virus lives in faeces and minute traces of it carry the infection on hands or food prepared by an infected person. Water can also be contaminated, especially abroad.
The virus needs to get into the mouth to infect someone. This can happen during sex when tiny amounts of faeces get on fingers and into mouths through:
- rimming
- fingering
- anal sex without condoms
- handling used condoms and sex toys that have been in someone else’s anus.
Protect yourself and others
You can protect yourself by getting vaccinated. People at higher risk of hepatitis A are recommended to have a vaccination, eg, close contacts of someone with the infection, gay men, and those travelling to parts of the world where the infection is common. You might be able to get vaccinated for free by your GP or sexual health clinic. The vaccine protects you for 10 years or longer. A vaccine exists that protects against hepatitis A and B.
If you have hepatitis A tell people you live with or have recently had sex with to ask their doctor about having an urgent vaccination. Avoid sex and preparing food for others until told you are no longer infectious.
Although they are not as good as being vaccinated these also cut the risk:
- avoiding sex that involves contact with faeces
- using condoms for anal sex
- washing hands after touching someone’s anus or handling used condoms and sex toys
- using a latex barrier (like a condom cut into a square) for rimming and latex gloves for fisting.