Can you get an STD from kissing at all?

Questions and discussion about contraception, safer sex, STIs, sexual healthcare and other sexual health issues.
DArwin
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Can you get an STD from kissing at all?

Unread post by DArwin »

Hello, I was wondering if you can get an STD or STI from kissing someone on the lips or body?
Jacob
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Re: Can you get an STD from kissing at all?

Unread post by Jacob »

Hi DArwin!

Oral herpes (HSV-1) can pass from mouth person if the other person has an outbreak, but apart from that nothing we'd call a an STI passes that way.

Of course you could catch a cold or flu. But these pass very easily and it's difficult to avoid catching even if we avoid kissing.

Can I Get Pregnant, or Get or Pass On an STI From That?
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CoolKid
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Re: Can you get an STD from kissing at all?

Unread post by CoolKid »

Oral herpes and that's it? So kissing complete strangers is totally safe?
Heather
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Re: Can you get an STD from kissing at all?

Unread post by Heather »

Well, no, you can get a whole mess of things by kissing people: HSV, but also, again, colds, the flu, strep throat, mono...a whole lot of potential contagious illnesses can get spread that way.

STIs aren't necessarily worse than other illnesses just because they're often sexually transmitted, so it's not like if there's no possible STIs it's always not a big deal. The flu kills people every year, for instance. Herpes doesn't.
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