Here, doctors explain potential infections you can get from kissing,
along with exactly what you need to know to stay as safe as possible.
1. Herpes
Herpes may be incurable, but it doesn’t make you a pariah. In fact, it
kind of makes you normal. Around two-thirds of the world’s population
under the age of 50 has herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1), which is known as the
oral kind of herpes, according to the World Health Organization. And
around one in every six Americans under the age of 50 has herpes simplex
2 (HSV-2), what’s known as the genital kind of herpes, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The thing about HSV-1 is that it sometimes creates cold sores in and
around the mouth. “If you’re kissing someone with lesions in their
mouth, mucous membranes make herpes easy to transmit,” Idries
Abdur-Rahman, M.D., a board-certified ob/gyn, tells SELF. So, if someone
you’re kissing has HSV-1, they could give you the virus (even if they
aren’t currently experiencing an outbreak, a phenomenon known as
‘asymptomatic shedding’ means they can still transmit it, says
Abdur-Rahman). And if they go down on you, they could transmit the virus
to your genitals.
If you or your partner has cold sores, over-the-counter medications like
Abreva can shorten the outbreak. There are also antiviral medications
like Valtrex that people can take on a regular basis to prevent
outbreaks from occurring.
2. Syphilis
“Syphilis is a highly infectious condition, and one of its hallmarks is
the development of sores in the mouth,” board-certified ob/gyn Antonio
Pizarro, M.D., tells SELF. The sores, which are usually round and open,
“combine to make syphilis transmissible through kissing,” says Pizarro.
Kissing isn’t the most common way to transmit syphilis—oral, anal, and
punani se_x still rank higher. But syphilis rates are currently on the
rise, according to the CDC, so it’s good information to have. If you or
your partner has syphilis-related sores in your mouth, they (and the
virus itself) should clear up with the help of doctor-prescribed
antibiotics.
So, what about other STIs? While the chances of passing infections
like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV through saliva aren’t usually worth
worrying about, that changes if one of you has a cut or sore in your
mouth. “Any time there’s an open sore and/or blood present,
theoretically an infection could be transmitted orally,” says Pizarro.
3. Meningitis
Some meningitis is caused by bacteria while other cases come about
because of viruses (including the herpes virus), Chris Carpenter, M.D.,
section head of Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine at Beaumont
Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, tells SELF. Close contact with a person
who has viral meningitis can result in you getting the virus, but it’s
unlikely to actually turn into meningitis, according to the CDC.
Bacterial meningitis is usually the kind associated with outbreaks
because the bacteria can be spread through close contact, including
kissing, but unlike with the viral variety, the bacteria is more likely
to cause meningitis in the host, says Carpenter. Symptoms include a
stiff neck, fever, and headache, according to the CDC. “If we are aware
of an outbreak, we will give people who have had close contact with the
[infected person] antibiotics to protect them,” says Carpenter.
4. Infectious mononucleosis
Ah, the so-called “kissing disease”! It definitely deserves its
nickname, because mono is caused by a virus that is easily transmitted
through kissing, according to Mayo Clinic. One of its trademark signs is
intense fatigue, although others include a sore throat and swollen
lymph nodes. According to Mayo Clinic, “treatment mainly involves bed
rest, good nutrition and drinking plenty of fluids,” so that’s basically
the only potential benefit of getting mono.
5. Gingivitis
Kissing doesn’t just involve swapping spit—although, how unsexy does
that sound when you’re not actually doing it?—it also includes
exchanging bacteria with the other person. Depending on both of your
oral healthcare habits, that bacteria can cause gingivitis, which is a
mild form of gum disease. (It can also cause cavities.) “We each have
our own natural bacterial flora in our oral environments. When someone
has poor hygiene, certain bacteria in and around the gum tissue can
become overwhelming,” Tim Pruett, D.M.D., founder of Flossolution, tells
SELF.
They can pass that bacteria to you via kissing, which can potentially
result in the typical inflamed, red gums that signal gingivitis, says
Pruett. The best way to protect yourself is by maintaining excellent
oral healthcare (i.e. brushing twice a day and flossing before bed) so
no matter what kind of bacteria someone’s introducing into your mouth,
you’re on it before it can grow out of control.
The day you get married is the happiest day of your life. It’s the day
you have spent the last few years dreaming about, and everything must
go smoothly and perfectly just like you have dreamed it would. It is the
day you will be gazing lovingly into the eyes of the love of your life
while your heart is beating faster than it should. It is nothing short
of bliss. Both of you are happy to have found each other.
