Hepatitis means the liver is inflamed. The two viral infections that cause hepatitis and are spread by sexual contact are hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Hepatitis B virus does not cause many symptoms but may cause acute hepatitis in about 50 percent patients. In the case of acute hepatitis the symptoms can include fever, abdominal pain, jaundice and generalised tiredness. It may also lead to chronic hepatitis which leads to an increased risk of liver cancer. Acute hepatitis can be treated with adequate rest and supportive medication while chronic hepatitis needs to be treated with interferon or antiviral medication. There is a vaccine for hepatitis B which is very effective. Hepatitis C infection is also spread by sexual contact but rarely. A majority of these patients develop chronic infection with an increased possibility of liver damage. There is no vaccine available as yet for hepatitis C.