Explainer

Hep A

Real talk

Hepatitis A (hep A) is a short-term infection that affects the liver. It spreads through contaminated food or water, or close contact with someone who has the virus. It usually goes away on its own and rarely causes long-term problems.

Myth-busting

Myth: “If you get hep A, you develop an immunity to all forms of hepatitis.”
Fact: False. The types of hepatitis are all different. If you get hep A, you’ll only develop an immunity to hep A.

Myth: “There’s no point getting vaccinated for hep A.”
Fact: Although severe cases of hep A are rare, it’s worth protecting yourself by getting vaccinated – especially if you enjoy anal play, work in a high-risk environment, or travel to countries where it’s common.

Myth: “Hep A always causes jaundice.”
Fact: Not always – sometimes, hep A doesn’t present with symptoms at all.

What is hep A?

Hep A is a viral infection of the liver. Most infections are from contaminated food or water, but it can also be passed through sex involving anal play.

Hep A may have no symptoms, or it may cause some people to get very sick for a few weeks.

How do you get hep A?

Hep A is passed when even the tiniest amount of poo gets into your mouth. Anyone who enjoys anal play – and activities such as rimming – can get it.

What are the symptoms of hep A?

Hep A may have no symptoms. If symptoms do come up, they may present as:

nausea
stomach pain
vomiting
pale poo
dark urine
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).

The good news about hep A is that most people will fully recover without any treatment. If you do have hep A, it’s a good idea to keep in regular contact with a relevant health professional, as they will be able to monitor your symptoms.

How is hep A prevented?

The ideal way to prevent hep A is to get vaccinated for it. The hep A vaccine is recommended for the following groups:

anyone who has anal sex
people who inject drugs
people with medical risk factors, including chronic liver
disease and developmental disabilities
people who live or work in rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia or Western Australia
people working in jobs that put them at greater risk, including:
- early childcare, aged care and disability workers
- plumbers and sewerage workers
people who travel to hepatitis A-endemic areas (including parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America)

To reduce the risk of hep A, you can also use barriers like condoms, gloves and dams during anal play. Make sure to wash your hands carefully after sex, and after handling used condoms, gloves, dams and toys. Check out our article sex toys for more information about cleaning your toys.

You can access free Needle and Syringe Programs (NSP) across Australia.

How do you test for hep A?

A routine STI screening doesn’t include a hep A test. If you have symptoms, a blood test can confirm if you have hep A, or if you’re immune as a result of previous vaccination or infection.

Check out our STI testing guide for more on what happens during a sexual health check.

How do you get treated for hep A?

Hep A often resolves itself without treatment. While there’s no specific cure for hep A, your healthcare provider may offer treatment to relieve nausea or pain symptoms.

If you’re diagnosed with hep A, make sure to rest, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol or medicines that are hard on your liver until you recover.

When to see a healthcare professional

A healthcare professional can recommend the tests that are right for your body and your sexual practices. They can provide treatment straight away if you need it, check for any complications, and talk with you about re-testing or letting partners know. Regular checks are a simple way to look after yourself, your partners and your community.

See a healthcare provider if: