Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 8/17/2008

Question
i would like to know what you think about this risk. i have read so many different responses involving this type of situation and none of them really match.i am really confused and would like to know your opinion. i know kissing is not a risk, but for some reason after i made out witht his guy for about an hour on and off ( we did nothing esle) i decided to spit afterward..dont ask me why but i noticed a few specs of blood in my saliva.i am totally freaked out .just say it was his if he had a cut or something, would this pose as a risky situation? i have good oral hygeine and im pretty sure he does so i have no idea how this happened but im really freaking out. most say you would both need to have a cut for transmission to take place others say your mouth absorbs things so either way its a risk.. but if that was true wouldnt so many more ppl become infected this way? i think there is only like one case like this..i dont know what to think. please help. thank you very much.

Answer
The mouth is a mucous membrane and the virus can pass through without the presence of cuts or sores. However, having cuts and sores increases the likelihood of transmission.

Kissing that does not involve blood poses no risk. If, in fact, his blood was in your mouth, then it would pose a risk- but a very small one.