[Question #5466] Kissing
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75 months ago
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Hi doctor,
I kissed a street sex worker on her lips just for 2-3 seconds and no tongue or deep or French kissing was involved (Only our lips touched each other briefly). I can't remember if my mouth was open or closed while kissing. I had an approximately 1 week old white canker sore (aphtha) inside of my lower lip at that time. I guess it was healing because it had stopped hurting at that time and 3 or 4 days later it was gone. Even though I talked to her 5 minutes before the kiss and I didn't see any blood coming out from her mouth, I am not sure if she had any bleeding, sores etc. inside her mouth. I am not sure either I or she had chapped lips too. So:
1) Mostly, I am worrying about that white canker sore in my mouth. If she had any bleeding or sores in or on her mouth does it pose any risk?
2) Do chapped lips pose any risk?
3) Do you recommend testing because of this incident?
4) May I continue living my life like nothing happened (if you say there is no risk of course)? Because I read your posts about "kissing poses no risk even if there's blood or canker sores" at medhelp and also here on askexpertsnow.com I found that Dr Hook said: "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." [Question #1226](32 months ago) Therefore I want to know if you changed your mind about this or not in the mean time?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
75 months ago
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Welcome to the Forum. Recently the topic of STI transmission through kissing, particularly gonorrhea transmission has been the subject of considerable discussion by scientists, in part because of the hypothesis on the part of some Australian investigators who believe that deep ("French") kissing with saliva exchange may account for a substantial part of gonorrhea transmission among men who have sex with men. Most other scientists, including us, are skeptical regarding this hypothesis and while gonorrhea may rarely be transmitted in this way, it appears to be rare and is not a concern. Other than the controversy regarding gonorrhea, STDs are rarely, if ever, transmitted through kissing, including deep kissing. Superficial kissing without saliva exchange is not a risk factor for STI however, just as sharing a toothbrush or drinking from a glass that someone else had used is NOT a risk for any STI. Thus. in answer to your specific questions:
1. No, neither the presence of a healing canker sore in your mouth, not any possible bleeding or dental disease in her mouth change the fact that your exposure was a no risk event, particularly for HIV.
2. No, chapped lips do not pose a risk.
3. I see no reason for testing of any sort from the exposure you describe.
4. I have not changed my mind on this topic. I strongly encourage you to forget about the interaction you describe and to move forward without concern.
I hope this information is helpful. EWH
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75 months ago
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Thank you so much Dr Hook for your quick response, it is such a relief for me. Just to check if I understood correctly and not to have anxiety again for my possible future kissing incidents can you confirm that this is a NO RISK event: Even if I have canker sore inside of my lips (regardless of in the process of healing or not) and even if the person I kiss is hiv+ and blood from her mouth touches my canker sore or my chapped lips there is still no risk for hiv?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
75 months ago
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Correct, kissing of the sort you describe is a NO RISK event for HIV. Canker sores, HIV status, chapped lips, mouth sores and blood in the mouth would not change this. EWH---
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75 months ago
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Thank you doctor for your replies and putting my mind at ease. So for my final reply, I understand that a person cannot get infected by hiv via kissing (closed mouth or open mouth and deep kiss or not) even both have bleeding, sores etc. (any possibility of blood contact by any sorts of kissing) Correct me if I'm wrong for the final time. I'm not going to post again about this incident and move on with my life. Once again thank you very much for informing and helping me and other people.
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75 months ago
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"I'm not going to post again about this incident and I am going to move on with my life." -typo correction
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
75 months ago
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You are correct. You have absolutely nothing to worry about with regard to acquiring HIV through kissing of any sort. EWK---
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75 months ago
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Dr, I hope I can ask one more question because I had a new girlfriend recently and I want peace of mind before anything gets serious between me and my gf. I don't want to cause any troubles to her if there is any risk from the incident that I told you. I got anxious again because I saw what CDC says about kissing at their website. Doesn't a canker sore (maybe a bleeding canker sore also) or chapped lips provide a way to my bloodstream if other person's blood come into contact with it? I just want to understand why blood contact is zero risk while kissing. Why does blood contact with an open sore is not a risk at the mouth but it is a risk when it happens at other parts of the body? Please don't get me wrong I ask these questions just for a better understanding. Appreciate your help.
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75 months ago
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Also I want to ask if you think there is zero risk also for hiv-2. Thanks
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
75 months ago
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There is no risk for HIV-2 from kissing.
No one has ever been proven to acquire HIV of any sort through kissing. Not ever.
You have received more than three responses as part of this thread. As per Forum guidelines, this thread is now over. There will be no further responses. Please don't worry. EWH
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