Does having hepatitis B make it harder to get pregnant? And what happens if I get hepatitis B while I'm pregnant?

By Attia @ Planned Parenthood | Aug. 11, 2021, 3:10 a.m.

No, having hepatitis B won’t make it harder for you to get pregnant. If you’re pregnant and you have hepatitis B, your nurse or doctor will give you treatment to help you stay healthy.

There’s no cure for hepatitis B, but it usually goes away by itself in 4 to 8 weeks. Getting the hepatitis B vaccine is a safe and really effective way to prevent hepatitis B.

If you have hepatitis B, your baby can get hepatitis B during childbirth. Newborns with hepatitis B are more likely to develop chronic (long term) infection, unless they get treated within 12-24 hours after birth. It’s important for you to get tested for hepatitis B while you’re pregnant. Your nurse or doctor, like the staff at your local Planned Parenthood health center, can test you for hepatitis B and other STDs during your regular prenatal appointments. If your doctor or nurse doesn’t offer hepatitis B testing, you can always ask for it.

The hepatitis B vaccine is totally safe for most people. Most babies, kids, and adults have no problems at all when they get the vaccine. You can get the hepatitis B vaccine at your doctor’s office, a community health clinic, the health department, and your local Planned Parenthood health center.

Tags: pregnancy, hepatitis b, STD