China is a large country with hepatitis B. About 40% of HBsAg-positive people in the population are caused by mother-to-child transmission. There are three main ways of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B: (1) infection during childbirth. This is the main route of mother-to-child transmission, as there will be some bleeding in the birth canal during childbirth, and there will be some contact between the baby and the mother’s blood and body fluids at this time, so the baby will be easily infected by the hepatitis B virus. (2) Infection in the womb. The placenta between the mother and the fetus acts as a barrier, and in most cases, the mother’s hepatitis B virus will not directly infect the fetus; however, in a few cases, such as problems with placental leakage, there is a possibility of infection. (3) Close contact after delivery. In the close contact between mother and baby after delivery, the mother’s blood and body fluids may infect the baby through the broken skin mucosa. So can married women with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis patients get pregnant and have children? The answer is yes, but again, each case should be treated separately. For those who are positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, it is best to be fully prepared before pregnancy. First of all, you should have a thorough medical examination to have a full understanding of your condition. Acute hepatitis B patients can get pregnant after adequate treatment and recuperation, normalization of all indicators of liver function, and all hepatitis B virus antigens have turned negative and their physical strength has fully recovered. Hepatitis B virus carriers whose liver function is always normal on long-term follow-up and no occult cirrhosis exists on ultrasound can have children normally. For chronic hepatitis B patients, on the other hand, it is best to undergo antiviral treatment before pregnancy. Because the abortifacient and teratogenic properties of antiviral drugs are unknown, pregnancy during treatment or treatment while pregnant is not recommended. For HBsAg-positive mothers who are already pregnant, they should be informed and knowledgeable about interruption of mother-to-child transmission (see separate article “Mother-to-child interruption of hepatitis B” for more details) and work with their doctors to prepare for all kinds of options. In conclusion, if you are planning to have a baby, it is advisable to have a pre-conception check-up and then adjust your pregnancy plan according to the actual condition of your body. You can have a healthy baby just the same.