Treatment Issues to Consider
There are several issues you should consider before making the decision to start any hepatitis B treatment:
- Make sure your doctor clearly explains why he/she is recommending treatment for you.
- Ask your doctor to discuss the pros and cons of the treatment option that is being recommended.
- If possible, get a second opinion to make sure you are getting the best advice.
- If you are a woman who wants to have children now, or in the near future, talk to your doctor about treatment and pregnancy. You cannot get pregnant while on medication for hepatitis B, but this does NOT mean that you cannot plan for a family. Some questions to consider are: should you postpone treatment to become pregnant now, or do you need to start treatment now and postpone pregnancy? Also, women on treatment for hepatitis B cannot take birth control pills, so make sure you speak to your doctor about alternate forms of birth control that you can take while you are on treatment.
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