Bite HIV Exposure?

Hi Doctors,

A few days ago, I bit the inside of my mouth while I was eating, cutting my mouth and causing a bit of bleeding just below my lip on the inside of my mouth.  Approximately 4-5 hours later I went on a date. During the evening I kissed my date many times--never really "deep kissing" with tongue or anything, mostly on the lips.

My question is: what are the chances that I could have been exposed to HIV if my date  A) had HIV, and B) also had a bite or a sore or a cut in her mouth that somehow transmitted blood into mine.

I should note that I didn't taste any blood or anything.

Thank you very much for your help!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The exposure you describe is no risk.  You do not need testing.  Kissing is no risk, even deep kissing and even with sores in the mouth, cuts, gum or dental disease. No one has EVER gotten HIV from kissing.

To put this in perspective remember that the quoted figure for HIV risk, if one has oral sex, which I'm sure you'll agree is a more intense exposure, with an infected partner is less than 1 in 10,000 and, in my estimation that is too high. Some experts state there is no risk at all from oral sex.  Neither of us on this site have ever seen or reading the medical literature of a convincing instance in which HIV was passed by oral sex.  

In your case, in addition to the information mentioned, I would add that you do not know that your date had HIV and infect, it is very unlikely that your date did.

Once again, no risk, no testing needed.  Hope this helps.  EWH

[stilllearning08]

Dear Good Dr. Hook,

THank you so much for helping all of us with HIV anxiety.
I have always had HIV anxiety, even when I was a virgin LOL.
Anyways, you mention about no cases of transmission, but there is one out that supposedly happened in 1997. (I'm certainly not attempting to disagree with an MD and am glad to hear you feel there is no risk from kissing).
I just want to doublecheck on this- I've had periodontitis treatments recently, and mostly I'm concerned because of having unprotected sex in one relationship, and then in another a few months later (who were probably fine but of course could have cheated essentially).
I don't want to date someone new and then pass on through kissing.
I think my anxiety is raised due to contracting herpes two years ago with no unprotected sex ever, and now all of these painful gum issues bring to light all kinds of anxiety.

In the beginning of November, I most likely will get tested, but until then I just want to be sure that I can't pass through kissing.

Thank you so much for putting up with all of us worry wells...HIV anxiety is on my mind daily...