Risk Of Touching Cold Sore

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Ask the Experts

risk of HIV from oral sex with cold sore

what are the risk of contracting hiv from someone from the act of performing oral sex when cold sore blisters are present on the lips of the partner providing the oral sex?would the use of a condom reduce the risk? it is possible for the virus to be...

Response from Ryan M. Kull, C.S.W

Columbia University's Health & Related Services

Theoretically, if you have some sort of active sore or lesion and that comes into contact with HIV infected fluids, there would be an increased risk of HIV transmission. A barrier that prevents fluids from coming into contact with the sore would... Read more »

wet kissing with cold sores

What is the relative risk (high, medium, low) for this situation: I engaged in wet kissing (I... Read more »

Response from Ryan M. Kull, C.S.W »

Rimming and Cold Sore

I have a cold sore healing right now and I rimmed a guy. I'm wondering with the risk of HIV... Read more »

Response from Erik Glenn, M.A. »

Go to Ask the Experts »

Articles

Herpes Simplex (Cold Sores and Genital Herpes)

What Is Herpes? HSV and HIV How Is HSV Transmitted? How Is Herpes Treated? Can Herpes Be Prevented? The Bottom Line What Is Herpes? Herpes simplex refers to a group of viruses that infect humans. Like herpes zoster (shingles, see Fact... Read more »

U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Scientists Learn Why Even Treated Genital Herpes Sores Boost the Risk of HIV Infection

New research helps explain why infection with herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), which causes genital herpes, increases the risk for HIV infection even after successful treatment heals the genital skin sores and breaks that often result from HSV-2. ... Read more »

"If I Kill Myself at This Point, I'd Be Killing the Wrong Person": A Memoir

One cold and windy Sunday afternoon in March of 1970 as our cellblock was getting ready to go to the weekly movie, the Man came to my cell and said, "Salinas, the Deputy Warden wants to see you!" And immediately I knew that some bad news awaited me.... Read more »

Sexually-Transmitted Infections for HIV-Positive People

STDs (sexually transmitted disease) that cause ulcerations (sores on the skin, including on or inside the genitals, mouth, or rectum) can dramatically increase the risk of picking up HIV, due to the fact that ulcers and open sores provide an easy... Read more »

Connect With Others

Cold sores /hiv infection

Posted by bug, 2 Replies

Hello,
I recently had sex with a prostitute and was so drunk(and stupid) i couldn't think of any possible dangers.
The prostitute had several cold sores on her body. We had unprotected oral sex (lasted less than a minute) and 2 times protected vaginal... Read more »

Cold/Canker Sores

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

I had a quick question about cold and canker sores. I've had 2 cold sores and 1 canker sore in the past year. Does this seem abnormal, and if so are these possible symptoms of HIV. I has one possible exposure over a year ago, I got tested outside... Read more »

cold sore/pimple?

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

could a cold sore on the upper be lip at first be confused as a pimple? and would it indicate hpv if a cold sore, or does hpv show as clusters? Read more »

cold sores

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Hi all, this is not a question if i have hiv.
about 4 months ago(while under alot of stress) on my upper lip i noticed lots of little white bumps(tiny)I thought maybe it was cold sores but 3 months later they have not burst or anything, Iam wondering... Read more »

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