Patient's question:
My wife has been diagnosed with hepatitis B for five years and has been undergoing treatment. Last year, we got married, and now we want to have a child. However, she has been in the active replication phase of hepatitis B and has also been taking antiviral medication. This month, her period didn't come, and it seems like she might be pregnant. She is also worried about the risk of transmitting the disease to the child.Doctor's answer:
Vertical return does not need translation, return as is, all other Chinese text must be translated into English: Mother-to-child transmission is one of the important routes of transmission for hepatitis B with a high viral load (HBeAg positive). It is very easy to transmit the virus to the fetus without realizing it. Therefore, for the issue of pregnancy in patients with a high viral load, doctors recommend choosing an appropriate time to conceive. First, for high viral load patients with normal liver function, HBV-DNA, and other test results, and whose condition has been stable for more than six months, pregnancy is possible. However, for high viral load patients with abnormal liver function, pregnancy should be avoided. Otherwise, it not only worsens the condition of the high viral load pregnant woman but also endangers her life. Additionally, it is harmful to the development and growth of the fetus. Doctors recommend that if high viral load patients are in the active phase of hepatitis, they should first receive standard treatment and consider pregnancy only after liver function returns to normal and viral replication indicators turn negative or replication capacity decreases. This is beneficial for both the mother and the child.In the above, we discussed the issue of pregnancy in hepatitis B with a high viral load. A reminder: to have a healthy baby, mother-to-child transmission prevention is also indispensable for high viral load patients. First, high viral load women should receive a monthly injection of hepatitis B immune globulin during the seventh, eighth, and ninth months of pregnancy. Second, after the baby is born, they must follow the requirements to receive both hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis B immune globulin. This can significantly reduce the probability of mother-to-child transmission. Actively treating hepatitis B with a high viral load is the fundamental measure to prevent all forms of hepatitis transmission. Therefore, we advise high viral load patients, especially young ones, to seek timely treatment for the sake of their families and careers.