[Question #1226] Deep Kissing with TS and very worried

101 months ago

Dear Doctors,

Thank you for taking my question. Three nights ago, I had too much to drink and made a big mistake that now has me very worried. I was at a seedy bar/club here in the US and hooked up with a stranger who I thought was a latin woman. However, it turned out that she was a transsexual (man that looked like a woman).

The encounter included a few episodes of deep french kissing that lasted a few minutes each time. I also remember that she bit either my lip or tongue pretty hard, but the next morning I didn't see any visible cuts or abrasions. She also put her hands down my pants and was masturbating me. There was no oral sex and no anal sex. I had a sore/swollen throat that night and for a couple days beforehand. I also have the bad habit of using smokeless tobacco/dip (not sure if that makes deep kissing a higher risk).

I'm extremely worried because this encounter was with a transsexual who I'm pretty sure is a CSW, and I keep reading that a very high percentage of transsexuals have HIV. My questions are:

1. How much risk for HIV did I put myself in from the deep french kissing? (I'm not sure if either of us had any sores, cuts, or blood in our mouths at the time of kissing)

2. Does the use of smokeless tobacco increase the risk of getting HIV from deep french kissing?

3. Does having a sore throat or swollen glands during french kissing increase the risk of getting HIV?

4. Should I be tested for HIV? If so, how many weeks would I have to wait for an accurate rapid blood test?

5. Are there any other STI's that I need to be concerned about from this encounter?

Thank you very much for your help.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

101 months ago

Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your question which addresses an important issue- even when a partner is a member of a group who may have a higher prevalence of STIs, including HIV such as CSWs or transsexual persons, there are still certain activities which have not associated with any risk for HIV. These activities include all forms of kissing including deep kissing and mutual masturbation by in infected person. In the case of kissing, there is no risk for HIV even if there are mouth sores, dental disease, or bleeding in the both. Similarly, with masturbation, this practice remains no risk even when partners get each others genital secretions on one another or when there is contact with cloth or clothing which have become wet with genital secretions. Still no risk at all and this is something I can say with great confidence since these events have occurred literally millions of times without there ever being a documented instance in which HIV was transmitted. Thus the answers to your questions are:

1. No risk for HIV or any other STI from deep French kissing

2. Your sore throat and swollen glands do not change this- still no risk for HIV

3. No (again)

4. There is no need for testing for HIV or other STIs.

5. No reason for concern about any STI other than perhaps oral herpes (cold sores due to HSV-1) if you do not already have the infection (nearly 60% of adults do have this infection, most of whom are not aware that they are infected) and unless your partner had a visible sore on her mouth.

I hope these comments are helpful. EWH

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101 months ago

Dr. Hook,

Thank you very much for answering my questions and for putting me at ease. In the event this person has HIV and is not on any HIV medication, would this change the answers to any of my questions? Also, I forgot to ask in my questions that I think she bit my lip or tongue while kissing somewhat agressively (I didn't really notice any obvious marks the next morning). Would this have changed anything about your responses or increased my risk for HIV or STI's?

Thanks very much again!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

101 months ago

Perhaps you missed my statement above- "...even when a partner is a member of a group who may have a higher prevalence of STIs, including HIV such as CSWs or transsexual persons, there are still certain activities which have not associated with any risk for HIV." No risk means just that, no risk - on or off therapy.

I noted your question about being bitten as well and thought I'd made it clear- still no risk.

No changes to my responses. you are in the clear. EWH

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101 months ago

Dr. Hook,

Thank you very much for all of your time and help. I greatly appreciate it.