WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for December, 2001: Re: kissing and HIV?

Re: kissing and HIV?

From: Patti Tessler, Family Nurse Practitioner (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 31 Dec 2001 00:14:57 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: shel: "kissing and HIV?"

At Tue, 25 Dec 2001, shel wrote: >
>Was told by a person I interviewed from a local HIV/STD testing site (I
>am putting a safe sex unit together for my 8th graders) that "making
>out" is a mode of HIV transmission. I was blown off my chair. I
>thought kissing was safe. She explained that the mouth is like a vagina
>(yikes!) and there is always blood in the mouth (due to brushing,
>eating, breathing, cheek biting..) I called the CDC and was slightly
>relieved, but they did say that there was one documented case and
>potentially many "masked" cases.

As I remember, that documented case was with significant blood and oral disease.

>So, my concern...I'VE MADE OUT! HELLO! A LOT! I thought I was being
>ultra safe by not engaging in any sex, safe or otherwise since my recent
>divorce....but I do like to kiss. Did I wake up 20 years too late? Do I
>need to test after kissing?

Not likely. But if you feel at risk, an HIV test makes more sense than monitoring your temperature, which can be raised from many different factors.

Please help me understand. Since this >interview I have been checking my body temp...97.9 to 99.4 depending on
>when I take it. Is anything above 98.6 a fever?

No.

>Also, got strep thoat...was told adults don't usually get this.

Right, but you're a teacher!

>Had a CBC done, white cells 7.4 (normal) but lymphs down nuetrophils way
>up (was told his was due to the strep, as CBC was performed 9 days after
>diagnosis of strep.) Let's see , I covered it. <snip>

Some sex practices are safer than others. None are risk-free. I would consider the main risk from kissing to be oral herpes.

Only you can determine the level of risk you're willing to assume. You can reduce risk by limiting partners, choosing safer practices, and knowing partners' histories. We assume risks each day without thinking about it (e.g. driving, skiing, flying). I feel confident in telling you that you're at higher risk of death each day from transporting yourself from home to work than from kissing.

--
Patti Tessler, BSN, MSN, RN, CS
Family Nurse Practitioner

Next message: Patti Tessler, Family Nurse Practitioner: "Re: ladies, have you ever had conflicting hpt results?"
Previous message: anonymous@obgyn.net: "Re: [Birth Control] Pills and pregnancy"
In reply to: shel: "kissing and HIV?"

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