Isn't saliva considered body fluid? would you get HIV by kissing someone that is positive?

Another question. Is there anyway to have safe-sex with an HIV+ person when you are HIV-?

Saliva is definitely considered a body fluid, but not one that can transmit HIV.

There are only 5 body fluids that can transmit HIV -
BLOOD
SEMEN
VAGINAL FLUIDS
RECTAL FLUIDS
BREAST MILK

Other body fluids may have minute traces of HIV, but cannot actually transmit the virus.

The mouth is a pretty tough and hostile environment for HIV transmission. The mucosal membranes of the mouth (that HIV would need to get through in order to infect) are tough, quick to heal, and there are relatively few immune cells in this area* which is a big factor in HIV transmission at other mucosal membrane sites like the vagina or anus/rectum.

There have been no documented cases where HIV has been transmitted by saliva. If VISIBLE blood were present , the risk would definitely increase, but not necessarily drastically, as the mouth is a pretty tough environment. This is why activities involving oral acquisition of HIV are all no risk to low risk, regardless of whether condoms are used for oral sex.

There is no such thing as 'safe' sex. To be accurate it is about reducing your risk of acquiring HIV, so 'safer sex' is more accurate.

The answer to your second question is yes. The careful and consisten use of condoms (always used and used correctly) can so greatly reduce the risk of transmission of HIV. People need to understand that HIV doesn't necessarily transmit with each unprotected, penetrative sex act. It can, and has happened with just one act, but population based studies show the risk is no where close to 100%. Add this to condoms being used consistently and correctly, and the answer to your question is yes. YES!


I know of many magnetic couples (one positive, one negative) who have regular, healthy sex lives with their partners and who have not transmitted the virus to their partner (in one case involving a 20 year relationship).

With accurate scientific information regarding transmission of HIV and safer sex training, many people feel reassured that they can continue to have sex with a partner who is living with HIV.

Kissing: Nope. No way.

Safe sex.. well, No. You can have relatively safe sex with someone who is HIV+ using a condom or like the other person said non-penetrating sex. You're especially unlikely to contract it if your partner is female, you are male, and you have vaginal sex with the you wearing a condom. Infection stats increase dramatically if you're a female that is HIV- and the male is HIV+ because of condom tears. Stats go up even more with anal sex.

Women are more likely to contract HIV for obvious reasons. They have much more open and more likely to tear tissue exposed to body fluids. Anal sex having a higher risk is also for obvious reasons..

However, there have been cases of couples together for longer than 10 years where one is - and one is + and it stays that way.

No because saliva is not a good habitat for saliva, I think the oxygen kills the HIV or something...its very fragile.
Really no, only protected sex. Women can catch it easier than men though because women are receptive during sex. I believe they may be some antiviral medicines the person can take to reduce the transmission, but its still a risk, because I have heard of couples having children where one was neg and the other pos and the neg one didn't catch it.

HIV is not found in saliva, so the only way you could get HIV from kissing and infected person is if you both had open sores or cuts in your mouths (exposure to infected blood).

HIV is found in blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breastmilk.

Condom use is the only way to have safe sex with a person who is HIV+.

No. Studies have shown that you would literally have to drink hundreds of gallons of saliva in one sitting to even come close to getting HIV from it. The safest way to have sex with an HIV+ person would be with a condom, but remember that condoms aren't always fool-proof. They do tend to break sometimes and have small rips in them. The best way to avoid HIV is via abstinence.

There have been no recorded cases of HIV transmissions via saliva.

In answer to your second question: Condoms or non-penetrative sex.

yes..if you have an open cut in your mouth or some way for the saliva to get to your blood stream