Catching an STD

We just had a huge argument in the pub. I was a bit outnumbered 25 to 1 or so. Is it possible to catch an STD after drinking someone elses drink? Surely if there are any bodily fluids left on the glass such as saliva and you have a crack in your lip or something...

Their argument was that STD is called that way because its sexually transmitted and you cant catch it any other way. yea, balls!

 

Well i know that when surgents do even minor surgeries on people with aids, they have to war full body protection including goggles just in case they get their petients blood in the eye...

 

In short, yes, it's possible to contract an STD without the "s" part:

http://www.answerbag.com/c_view.php/1794

 

That link does not work for me

 

MYTH You can get HIV by kissing an HlV-infected person.

REALITY Casual contact through closed-mouth or "social" kissing is not a risk for transmission of HIV. Because of the theoretical potential for contact with blood during "French" or open-mouthed kissing, the CDC recommends against engaging in this activity with an infected person. However, no cases of AIDS have been attributed to any kind of kissing.


You can get some STD's without sex, for instance sharing needles. And I think theoritically you can also get HPV from skin contact but I'm pretty sure it has to be skin from "down there"...

 

I just went to it again with no problems ... sorry if you're not able to access it for some reason.

Here's a few excerpts:

 

http://www.avert.org/genitalwarts.htm

STDs like Genital Herpes can be transmitted through kissing. IMHO, it is also possible via glasses of an infected person depending on how long the disease-carrier has since used it.

 

You definatly COULD get AIDS kissing an HIV+ person. The realistic is though you won't. Your body can handle low doses of ANY virus, it is mass quantities that get us sick. Wash your hands Also, HIV is carried in the muccus (SP) membrane, so dont swap loogies.

 

Yes, part of my 'blood born pathogens" required tranning for first aid, they gave case records about a confirmed tranfser of aids infection via the mouth. It was a driving force for us to use protective barriors doing CPR, and covered the companies ARSE is we become infected.

Ignorance is bliss.

tom

 

How will that help? Unless you're kissing hands, of course...

 

The fact that you actually can get a STD thru kissing makes protecting yourself even harder.
I remember in high school we've had a discussion about that and my point was that whether or not Saliva can be used to transmit HIV, there was a big chance to be able to contract the virus thru even the slightest little cut. Then the teacher told me I was panicking and that was the wrong attitude which would just cause people to be more scared than they already were.

What was that term about ignorance again?

 

How often do you think it's actually ever happened? I just looked up 5 different sites all saying no confirmed cases of AIDS from kissing have ever come to light (but it is the internet so it's not really 100% trustworthy).

Simple fact is you COULD get bitten by shark in the ocean... you COULD get electrocuted by lighting... a small meteor COULD crash through your house and kill you... but what are the odds??

 

Would you kiss a girl intimately if you knew she had HIV?

 

Would you jump in the water if you knew there was a shark close by?

 

Of course not ...

 

Well then my analogy stands. Sharks could kill you, but people still go swimming in the ocean everyday... but if you know one is nearby you're not just going to jump in.

Same thing with STD and kissing.. you're not going to never kiss are girl again because she might have a small chance of having AIDS are you? But if you know a girl actually has it you're probably not going to kiss her.

same thing

 

True, you can die anytime from anything, but it's good to know that there is a chance to contract the virus from things other than sex. I can't stand it when some people or organizations make a claim such as "You can never get it thru this or that" and then in reality you can. It's up to the individual to adjust their own lifestyle, but telling people the whole truth is always key.

 

I agree with you on that.. it is good to always know the risks involved.

Doctors and researchers still don't even know everything about all STD's and how they're transferred (especially HPV).

 

Absolutely, yet many of them make statements defending their opinions not always based on verified results.