[Question #12699] HPV Kising Risk

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6 months ago
Hi Dr im a White bi male 52  Never had Penetrated sex with a guy  4 months ago i met a gay guy we Masturbated together and kissed a few times with our lips (no Tongue) No oral since then i got a infection in my throat went on Augmenton&Zithromaz then Dr put me on Doxytet &Fixime to clear up swollen glands which went away but im still having red throat discomfort scratchy mainly 1 sided my ears get sometimes uncomfortable  no visable oral leasions paranoid. been tested Hiv/Syphilis/Gonorrhea(throat),Chlamydia &herpes (all Neg) ENT scoped me in December nothing to find (postnazel) feel slight discomfort inhaling through right nose into my throat (not going away) right ear pops
i dont know what to do
1 Can i Get oral HPV from Kissing with Saliva with our lips (No Deep Kissing no Tongue) really concerned is this a Std Problem?
thankyou for your help

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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
6 months ago
Welcome. Thanks for your confidence in our services.

Neither HPV for any other STI causes the sort of ongoing symptoms you have been having in the last few weeks. Although we don't get into details of trying to analyze or comment on non-STD problems, I would say your symptoms almost certainly are just a prolonged minor viral infection or perhaps allergy. Further, kissing is nearly risk free for all STIs; but if somehow you had acquired the main important ones -- gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia -- the antibiotics would have cured them. (But none of them causes sore throat anyway.) HIV has never been known to be transmitted by kissing.

HPV also is rarely transmitted by kissing, and certainly not by non-intimate kissing, i.e. not deep, no tongue. Of course you can assume you have had HPV and may still be carrying one or more HPV infections. At least 90% of all sexually active persons acquire HPV -- half become infected within their first three lifetime sex partners. Oral HPV isn't as common as genital, but it certainly isn't rare. Fortunately, the large majority of HPV infections never cause an important health problem.

In summary, no worries about HPV or any other STD for your throat discomfort and the other symptoms you mention. Keep working with your doctor(s) is your symptoms continue or you are otherwise concerned about them.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD
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