My husband has hepatitis B. I have been vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Now I am pregnant via sperm donation and I would like to know if my husband can infect our child if we have sex without a condom?

Answer

A successful vaccination against hepatitis B protects against infection with the virus. Because a small part of the vaccinated people react insufficiently to the vaccine, it is recommended to perform a test for this after the normal series of vaccines (antibodies against HBs antigen). If a good response is seen, people are in principle protected against the infection for life. In pregnant women, the unborn child is also protected. If you want to be sure, it is best to request such a test through your doctor.