Hep B Transmission | How Do You Get Hep B

The hepatitis B virus can live in blood and sexual fluids. Hepatitis B can be a risk if there is blood-to-blood contact with someone with hepatitis B. Unprotected sex can also be a transmission risk for hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B can’t be passed on through saliva, skin, or air – so these are not transmission risks for hepatitis B. When a mother with hepatitis B gives birth to a baby, she should wait to breastfeed until her baby has had its first hepatitis B injections in the hospital (hep B immunoglobulin and the first of 4 hep B vaccinations). After this breastmilk is not a transmission risk.

How do you get hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B can be passed on through blood-to-blood contact, unprotected sex or from mother to baby (at birth).

Transmission risks for hepatitis B are:

From a mother with hepatitis B to her baby at birth – this is the most common way hepatitis B is transmitted.
Exposure to hepatitis B in early childhood.
Unprotected sexual activity
Sharing injecting drug equipment
Unsterile cosmetic or medical procedures.
Unsterile tattooing or piercing
Unsterile traditional practices such as traditional tattooing, circumcision, initiation rituals involving blood, and scarification
Needlestick injuries when working in healthcare.
Sharing personal items that might have traces of blood on them including toothbrushes, combs, nail clippers or razors

Hepatitis B is NOT transmitted by kissing, sneezing, hugging or coughing. You also won’t get hepatitis B if you eat food or drink beverages prepared by someone who has it. Without direct contact with blood or sexual fluids from the person with hepatitis B, you are not at risk of hepatitis B.

Groups at high risk of hepatitis B transmission

Hepatitis B can only be passed on through blood-to-blood contact, unprotected sex or during birth – so you might be at risk of having hepatitis B if you:

have moved to Australia from a country where hepatitis B is widespread
were born to a mother who was hepatitis B positive during her pregnancy
live or have lived with someone with hepatitis B
have or have had a sexual partner who has hepatitis B
have ever injected drugs or steroids
are in prison or have ever been in prison
have had blood transfusions, blood products or organ transplants in Australia before February 1990
are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
have ever had a tattoo or body piercing
are a man who has had sex with men
have ever worked as a sex worker
have had a needle-stick injury
have had unprotected sex
have had unsterile cosmetic or medical procedures.
have had unsterile tattooing or piercing
have ever taken part in unsterile traditional practices such as traditional tattooing, circumcision, initiation rituals involving blood, and scarification
share or have shared personal items that might have traces of blood on them including toothbrushes, combs, nail clippers or razors
do not meet the above profiles but have abnormal liver function tests or experience hepatitis B symptoms

What should you do if you think you have hepatitis B?

If you think you might be at risk for hepatitis B, there are many ways we can help you. We can offer you support, answer questions and help you find health services near you:

Get a hepatitis B test: Take a look at our NSW Services Directory to find a hepatitis B testing doctor near you.
Speak to someone:
- call 1800 803 990 to speak confidentially with one of our Hepatitis Infoline workers
- use our online ‘Live Chat’, available on every page of our website.
Read about hepatitis B: Order one of our free resources about hepatitis B
Learn more about testing: Have a look at our chart about hepatitis B testing

How can I prevent hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is only passed on through blood-to-blood contact, sexual fluids and from mother to baby at birth. The best way to avoid hepatitis B is to get vaccinated. You can be vaccinated at doctors’ clinics or sexual health clinics.

For more information about hepatitis B transmission, please contact the Hepatitis Infoline, download one of our free hepatitis B resources, or speak to your local doctor.