I know this stuff is scary and boring and most of you will skip over it. However, this is the kind of stuff you need to know if you want to enjoy dating and maybe even finding that perfect mate.

Hepatitis is a virus that attacks the liver. There three main types: HVA, HVB, and HVC. Like many of these virus diseases, there is no cure.

HVA is transmitted by contact with contaminated stool and therefore can be contracted during sexual activity. Especially if you need to use a stool to engage in sex. Oops, not that kind of stool. With better hygiene, there is less chance of contracting this disease. Less exotic forms of sexual activity will help to keep you safe – keep your tongue where it belongs. Hepatitis A is the least problematic form of the disease and goes away on its own after around two months. It is unlikely to cause future problems like seen with HVB and HVC. You can get Hepatitis A from eating uncooked, infected shell fish. Why anyone eats anything not cooked amazes me, but they do!

HVB is transmitted by contact with infected blood, semen, and other body fluids from having sex with an infected person. This means you don't want to have sex with someone who has HVB.

As a matter of fact, according to the CDC, among adults in the United States, hepatitis B is most commonly spread through sexual contact and accounts for nearly two-thirds of acute hepatitis B cases. In fact, hepatitis B is 50–100 times more infectious than HIV and can be passed through the exchange of body fluids, such as semen, vaginal fluids, and blood. Oral sex anyone? I don't think so.
Interestingly, hepatitis B virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. But, I'd still avoid "making out" with this person."

There is no cure for the acute stage (the stage where you have symptoms) of HVB and it usually goes dormant by itself. If it remains in the chronic state (i.e. no symptoms), there are medications that can help it to remain inactive.

HVC is transmitted by infected blood. Since the virus is not found in sufficient quantity in saliva and seamen, it is not generally transmitted by kissing, sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.
It is not generally spread by sexual activity unless there is bleeding. As such, it is best to use a condom and avoid "rough sex." If you don't know what rough sex is, you are probably going to be okay unless you meet someone who likes it.

There is a vaccine for HVA and HVB. If you are leading an active sex life you should consider the vaccines.

There is a treatment for HVC that is difficult to go through (lots of side effects and complications), protracted (injections and pills for up to a year or longer) and expensive. The goal is to reduce the virus levels to zero, and while that can be done in many patients; the disease can recur, just like herpes that never goes away.

HVB and HVC can cause cirrhosis of the liver and even liver cancer years later. Treatment helps to reduce this from occurring.

Many people who contract HVB and HVC are current or past IV drug users. You may want to consider who you hang around with before you enter into a committed relationship with those who went down that path.

The bottom line for all of these diseases is practice safe sex!