August, 1997 column
I'm confused about the differences among
hepatitis A, B and C. How do I know if I've
contracted one of them? Besides condom
use, what can I do to protect myself?
You're ahead of the game just by
knowing that some forms of
hepatitis are sexually transmitted
-- and that all of them pose a
threat to your health. All types of
hepatitis (including the far less
common D and E strains) attack
the liver, sometimes producing flu
like symptoms; hepatitis B and C
can lead to chronic liver disease
and may also increase the risk of
liver cancer. Although vaccines
are available to prevent hepatitis
A and B, more than half a million
Americans are infected by some
form of the virus each year --
and thousands eventually die
from it.
Not all types of hepatitis are
transmitted sexually, however.
While unprotected anal or oral
sex are two ways to hepatitis A
is transmitted, this type is usually
contracted by eating or drinking
contaminated food or water.
(One source of contamination:
infected food workers not
washing their hands after using
the bathroom.) Symptoms,
including jaundice, fatigue,
nausea, vomiting and diarrhea,
tend to last a few weeks.
Hepatitis B, on the other hand, is
transmitted mostly through
vaginal or anal intercourse. It
doesn't always produce
symptoms, so you and your
partner should see a doctor for a
blood test if you're having
unprotected sex. If one of you
tests positive, the other can
prevent infection by getting
immunized within two weeks of
exposure.
Hepatitis C is more serious still,
Screening is available but there's
no vaccine, and the infection
leads to chronic liver problems in
70 to 75 percent of those
infected. It can be passed on
through unprotected anal or
vaginal sex, blood transfusions
and possibly even body piercing
or tattoos.
Your best bet against all types of
hepatitis? Use condoms, and if
you plan to get pierced or
tattooed, be sure the needles ate
sterile and aren't being reused.
Never share razors, toothbrushes
or anything else that might
transmit blood. Finally, if you're
traveling abroad, ask your
doctor if you need a hepatitis A
vaccine. For more tips, see the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's Web site,
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/hepatitis.htm.
My boyfriend refused to wear a condom
when I asked. We had sex anyway, but I
felt terrible aferward. He was surprised; he
said he didn't think I cared that much. How
could I have expressed myself better?
Good communication can be
tricky, particularly in the heat of
passion. To make matters worse,
when we're not sure how
someone is going to react to our
message, we often express
ourselves in an indirect manner
that's easily misinterpreted.
When it comes to something as
important as condom use,
however, offer your partner no
outs, no choices and no
ambivalence. Instead of saying,
"Will you use a condom?" you
might try, "We must use a
condom." Therapists also suggest
broaching sensitive topics with
"I" statements, as in, "I need to
use a condom to feel relaxed and
safe," instead of potentially
threatening "you" requests such
as, "You should use a condom."
Of course, if you did clearly
communicate your desire to use
condoms and your boyfriend
simply ignored you, you may
need to rethink your relationship.
He shouldn't look for loopholes
or place the burden of condom
use solely on you. Both of you
need to participate in maintaining
a healthy, safe love life together.
Glamour, August 1997
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