Closed mouth lip kiss for less than a second, worried about HSV.

[Koniraj]

Hi, I had a superficial closed mouth kiss three days back with my GF. She tried to kiss twice, but I denied, so in this event, her lips touched to my lips for maximum only 1 second each time. I am sure its not a open mouth kiss or french kiss. I asked her STD report, unfortunately her HSV IGG is positive. But at present she do not have any out break in her mouth, no sores or no blisters. Now I am worried, am I in the danger of HSV due to the superficial closed mouth lip touch with her? Please help me in assessing risk.

[Sara_MHModerator]

Your question was answered fully already by our members.

***  Thread Closed ***

[auntiejessi]

In theory, yes, this is a risk. In practicality, this isn't.

A quick kiss without a sore present isn't going to transmit anything.

Have you ever tested? 67% of people under 50 have hsv1, and 90% of those never get symptoms. You could have it and never know it. Some parts of the world have much higher rates.

Many of your parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc., likely have it.

My point is not to freak you out, but to educate you. It's an incredibly common virus. If you limit your dating partners to those without it, your dating options will be very, very limited, no matter where you live.

Nonetheless, you had no risk here. If you can't handle the risk, please break up with the poor girl and let her find someone who can. It's not fair to either of you.

[Koniraj]

Thank you for your reply and it means a lot. I tested two months back complete STD pannel including HSV, all negative. Overall, practically if she do not have outbreak when this quick kiss happened, there is no chance of transmission, right? She says that, she never had a symptoms of HSV.

[auntiejessi]

There is no such thing as a "complete STD panel". Double check that your tests included HSV. Usually, a panel just includes whatever your doctor finds important, and most don't think herpes is important enough to test for.

"Overall, practically if she do not have outbreak when this quick kiss happened, there is no chance of transmission, right?"

Yes, this is correct.

[Koniraj]

Thank you.

[Koniraj]

Yes, it included HSV 1 and 2 IGG and IGM.

[auntiejessi]

In the future, when you test, do not get the IgM. It is a highly unreliable and inaccurate test. The CDC, and every single herpes expert recommends against using this test.

If it ever was positive, you'd have no idea if it's accurate or not, and could send you in quite a loop of trying to figure out if that's correct or not. Only do the IgG.

[Koniraj]

Thank you very much for your suggestion. I am planing to go for DNA PCR test in blood, is it accurate test? If so, please let me know the right time to test after exposure.

[auntiejessi]

No, it's not an accurate test. Herpes isn't found in the blood. That blood test should never be done on an adult to try to diagnose herpes unless there's concern about something like encephalitis. It is useless and expensive.

Just do the IgG.

[Koniraj]

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation. Just to be sure, do I need test at first place considering my quick kiss incident? If so, when (how many days after) should I go for test?

[auntiejessi]

No. Testing would be just a general test to see if you have it, not because of the quick kiss.

I see that you've tested with the IgG in the past. If you've had no exposures other than this since then, you don't need to test at all.

[Koniraj]

Thank you. Just for clarification, plz answer. After the incident of 6hrs, burnining sensation started at outer skin under my lower lip, and it still continuing without any sores or blisters developed. Is HSV symptoms start within 12hrs? If symptoms do appear, what is the average time period to get?