Hepatitis B is a contagious, inflammatory liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. This virus is most commonly spread through engaging in sexual activities with an infected partner. Men who are intimate with other men, especially men who have multiple intimate partners, are at an increased risk of developing this infection. Talk with your doctor about hepatitis B symptoms in men and be sure to protect yourself by using condoms every time you have sex.
Asymptomatic
Approximately 30 percent of hepatitis B patients do not experience symptoms of infection (asymptomatic), report health officials at the Division of Disease Control, a component of the North Dakota Department of Health. Asymptomatic men are at an increased risk of unknowingly spreading this infection to intimate partners. Regular blood tests can detect the hepatitis B virus early on, which can decrease the transmission of this virus to other people. A hepatitis B vaccine is also available that can help protect you against developing this infection even if you are exposed to the virus.
Flu-like Symptoms
If you have been exposed to the hepatitis B virus, you can begin exhibiting symptoms within three months, explain health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The most common hepatitis B symptoms in men are flu-like symptoms, which can include fever, fatigue, stomach upset, joint or muscle pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or decreased appetite. These symptoms can be uncomfortable and may negatively affect your productivity at work or school. If you have acute hepatitis B, these flu-like symptoms typically persist for no longer than a few months. Chronic hepatitis B infection can cause patients to experience long-term flu-like symptoms that may last for years.
Skin, Urine or Stool Discoloration
The hepatitis B virus irritates and inflames the liver, which can interfere with the normal function of this organ. Liver damage resulting from hepatitis B infection can cause jaundice to develop in some men. If you have hepatitis B, you can notice that your skin appears usually yellow and your urine may be darker than normal, explain health officials at Medline Plus, an medical information website provided as a service of the National Institutes of Health. This virus can also cause infected patients to excrete pale or clay-colored stools, reports the CDC. These hepatitis B symptoms typically occur in conjunction with flu-like symptoms and can persist for several months or years depending on the extent of your infection.
