[Question #13972] HIV scare

14 hours ago

Your website was highly recommended to me by a work colleague. You helped him greatly with his STI worries and your advice was spot on.

I hope you don’t mind helping me also.

Last month I kissed an unknown female briefly for 2 seconds on her lips. She seemed just a normal person and we got on well.

However, I returned to the same night club last night and she was there. This time looking for clients. I did not know this when I met her last month, but she is a sex worker.

I am of course now worried about STI’s, particularly HIV.

I do not remember what condition my lips were in when the kiss happened. I do remember licking them afterwards as I could taste lip gloss, however, I am worried if there may have been blood or genital fluids on hers.

Any reassurance you can provide is greatly appreciated.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you in advance.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

10 hours ago

Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your kind comments about our services.

Kissing doesn't transmit STIs and for sure there was no risk for HIV. The "condition" of your lips at the time of the kiss makes no difference. You do not need testing for anything, including HIV.

I hope this brief reply is helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

---

6 hours ago

Dr Handsfield - thank you for taking time out of your weekend to answer me.

Your comments have calmed me down greatly.

Am I correct that if there happened to be a small amount of blood or genital fluids transferred from her lips to mine, which I then licked off, this would not put me at risk for HIV?

I recall that I may have had an ulcer on the roof of my mouth at the time from a hot drink.

Apologies if my question comes across as OTT. I have just started dating someone and want to be sure there is nothing to worry about.

I have looked at your replies to other users on the forum and see that, unless infected at birth, HIV is only transmitted via penetrative penile-vaginal/anus intercourse, blood transfusions; sharing of needles; and sharp instrument accidents (in a medical setting).

Thank you for your support.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 hours ago

HIV infections rarely are acquired by the mouth being exposed. While of course nobody would recommend swallowing a mouthful of HIV infected blood, it probably would not result in catching the virus. Simply never worry about kissing at all in regard to HIV or other STDs.---

2 hours ago

Thank you again Doctor for your very prompt reply.

So absolute worst case, if a small amount of her blood or saliva had entered my mouth via my tongue/lick, I can still now be worry free regarding HIV and put this event out of my head?

(her lips were definitely not pouring with blood as I would have noticed).

The burn/ulcer on the roof of my mouth makes no difference?

I will take your advice onboard and not test on account of this event.

I appreciate that the thread will now be closed. This service has been most welcome, as I’m sure others will agree.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

2 hours ago

Stop looking for exceptions or worst case scenarios. There was no risk for HIV or any STD from the kind of kiss you had. NOTHING you describe now or might think of in the future makes any difference.

As you expected, that concludes this thread. Thanks for the thanks; I'm glad to have helped.

---