The liver is the largest organ in the body, occupying the entire upper right quadrant of the abdomen. It performs over 500 vital functions. Among them are the following:

• It processes all of the nutrients the body requires, including proteins, glucose, vitamins, and fats.
• The liver manufactures bile, the greenish fluid stored in the gallbladder that helps digest fats.
• One of the liver's major contributions to life is to render harmless potentially toxic substances, including alcohol, ammonia, nicotine, drugs, and harmful by-products of digestion.
• Old red blood cells are removed from the blood by the liver and spleen, and the iron contained in them is recycled to the bone marrow to make new red blood cells.

Most cases of hepatitis are caused by viruses that infect liver cells and begin replicating. There are several types of the Hepatitis virus, most commonly known being:

• Hepatitis A     • Hepatitis B     • Hepatitis C

There is also Hepatitis D, E and G, but the viruses are all unique, but often share common transmissions routes and therefore preventable in similar ways.

Importantly, while Hepatitis A and B can be vaccinated against, they all cause damage to your liver if left untested. It is also quite common for people with HIV to be infected (co-infected) with hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C too.

Major ways of transmission
You're most likely to become infected with hepatitis in the following ways:

• Sexual transmission.
Depending on the hepatitis type, it can be transmitted during sex by unprotected fucking; rimming; shared sex toys if they're not washed or covered with a condom; sucking; fisting without latex gloves.
• Blood transmission
Hepatitis is easily transmitted through needles and syringes contaminated with infected blood. That's why sharing IV drug paraphernalia puts you at high risk of hepatitis. It may also be transmitted by sharing razors/snorting pipes/tattooing and piercing equipment which has not been sterilised.
• Contaminated food
With Hepatitis A, eating food or drinking contaminated liquids (water) (including ice) is a primary route for infections.