Can I kiss my HIV-positive girlfriend?
KISSING is not listed as one of the ways of HIV transmission. Even though HIV is found in saliva, for one to be infected, he or she needs to ingest several litres of saliva. The chance of infection through kissing is very slim.
Face HIV with Dr. Watiti
Dear Doctor,
How safe is it for me to kiss my HIV-positive girlfriend when I am HIV negative? Secondly, is oral sex safe because she sometimes wants it and says it is not as risky as penetrative sex? Lastly, is there any risk of me contracting HIV by sucking her breasts, which I sometimes do?
Kool
Dear Kool,
KISSING is not listed as one of the ways of HIV transmission. Even though HIV is found in saliva, for one to be infected, he or she needs to ingest several litres of saliva. The chance of infection through kissing is very slim.
However, what starts as a kiss ends in unplanned and unprotected sex and that is where the danger lies.
Oral sex, which is the practice of touching male or female sex organs using the mouth and tongue, is not as risky as penetrative sex.
But one can still get infected especially if they have oral or genital sores since HIV is found in saliva, vaginal fluids and semen.
Secondly, as with kissing, what starts as low risk oral sex often ends as unprotected penetrative sex, which is highly risky.
Lastly, kissing breasts or sucking them as you put it may not necessarily expose you to HIV since you do not suck out breast milk which may have the virus.
But because it arouses your girlfriend and makes her want to have sex makes it a risky behaviour.
You should go together for HIV/AIDS counselling so that you make an informed decision to continue with or leave this discordant relationship.
Dear Doctor,
How safe is it for me to kiss my HIV-positive girlfriend when I am HIV negative? Secondly, is oral sex safe because she sometimes wants it and says it is not as risky as penetrative sex? Lastly, is there any risk of me contracting HIV by sucking her breasts, which I sometimes do?
Kool
Dear Kool,
KISSING is not listed as one of the ways of HIV transmission. Even though HIV is found in saliva, for one to be infected, he or she needs to ingest several litres of saliva. The chance of infection through kissing is very slim.
However, what starts as a kiss ends in unplanned and unprotected sex and that is where the danger lies.
Oral sex, which is the practice of touching male or female sex organs using the mouth and tongue, is not as risky as penetrative sex.
But one can still get infected especially if they have oral or genital sores since HIV is found in saliva, vaginal fluids and semen.
Secondly, as with kissing, what starts as low risk oral sex often ends as unprotected penetrative sex, which is highly risky.
Lastly, kissing breasts or sucking them as you put it may not necessarily expose you to HIV since you do not suck out breast milk which may have the virus.
But because it arouses your girlfriend and makes her want to have sex makes it a risky behaviour.
You should go together for HIV/AIDS counselling so that you make an informed decision to continue with or leave this discordant relationship.