Quick Answer
Hepatitis B is a viral STI with a highly effective vaccine. Most adults clear the infection naturally, but ~5% become chronic carriers requiring lifelong monitoring for liver cancer.
- ~17,600 estimated new infections per year (CDC)
- Viral, preventable with vaccine
- Treatment: antivirals for chronic carriers
- Vaccine: 95%+ effective, lifelong protection
Context Most Pages Skip
Hepatitis B is the only STI with a vaccine that prevents both the infection AND the liver cancer it causes. The vaccine is one of the most effective vaccines ever developed.
Key Facts
About 95% of infected adults clear the virus naturally; the rest become chronic carriers requiring lifelong monitoring. The vaccine prevents both acute infection and carrier status.
⚕️ This page is educational and does not replace advice from a licensed clinician. If you may have been exposed to an STI, get tested — most infections are manageable, and many are fully curable.
Sources & Further Reading
- CDC — Sexually Transmitted Infections
- CDC STI Treatment Guidelines
- WHO — Sexually transmitted infections fact sheet
- MedlinePlus — Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Figures reflect CDC surveillance and WHO estimates; they are population statistics, not personal risk predictions.