Hepatitis B is spread through contact with blood and bodily fluids, including semen and vaginal fluid. Therefore, you may be exposed to the hepatitis B virus through unprotected sex (without a condom), or through sharing needles for drug injection, or through acupuncture, body piercing and tattooing, if proper sterility and hygiene practices are not followed.
Hepatitis B may also be transferred from a mother to baby during birth or in the time after birth.
In less common cases, hepatitis B may also be spread by contact with personal items such as contaminated razors and toothbrushes.
Due to screening of blood products and organs for transplant, contracting hepatitis B through a blood transfusion or organ transplant is not likely in Australia.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B Questions and Answers for the Public. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/bfaq.htm (Accessed 07 December 2021).
5. Better Health Channel. Hepatitis B. Available at: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/hepatitis-b (accessed 07 December 2021).
MAT-AU-2102484 Date of preparation January 2022
Show All
By clicking on this link, you will be leaving this Sanofi hosted website, and depending on the link, will be redirected to either another Sanofi website (for example, to view the Sanofi Privacy Policy) or an independent third party website which is typically not a Sanofi controlled website and may not be located in Australia (“Third Party Website”).
Use of and access to any Third Party Site is subject to the terms, limitations and conditions set by the Third Party Site producer and applicable laws.
Sanofi does not generally develop or maintain Third Party Sites, nor does it necessarily control those sites availability or what information is contained on those sites in any given instance and makes no representation in relation to those sites to the maximum extent permitted under any applicable laws, regulations or codes.
Any information that you access via a Third Party Site, may not comply with the Australian regulatory requirements. Further information relevant to the Australian environment is available from Sanofi or via the Product Information.
