This article was published on September 27th, 2023

Are you soaking up the final rays of summer? Perhaps, lounging by the pool with a cocktail in hand? If not, we’ve got your back. For the last summer hurrah, pool parties are where it’s at, especially before we embrace the coziness of autumn with its long nights and chilly air. Here’s our ultimate list for the last days of summer to ensure you make the most of it.

But…

Amidst the clear blue water and floating pool noodles, you and your best friend are relaxing on lounge chairs. You know, the kind of party where shared playlists set the mood and chatter flows just as freely as the deliciously gay cocktails?

While discussing the anticipated autumnal binge-worthy series, your best friend takes a deep breath before sharing their recent HIV diagnosis. The gravity of the moment might have been momentarily overshadowed by the beat of summer hits and splashes, but soon after, the ripples began.

Your heart skips a beat, thoughts cascading.

You panic and think “Can I get HIV from them? Does saliva carry HIV?”

Don’t lose your cool and start contemplating the safety of shared drinks or utensils. Before diving into a sea of assumptions, it’s time to wade through some clear, factual waters and answer the question looming in your mind…

Does spit even have HIV?

Let’s get into it.

Does Saliva Carry HIV, or are you jumping to conclusions?

Ah, assumptions, darlings! They’re like those unwelcome tan lines after a day at the pool; they just don’t go away easily. But before you go mentally raiding your memory bank for every shared drink, popsicle, or accidental splash from that pool party and let’s splash some science on the burning question and get a granular answer for “does saliva carry hiv?“

First things first, if you’re wondering whether you can get HIV just by sipping from the same straw or sharing that blue havaiyee cocktail, take a deep breath and relax. When it comes to HIV transmission, the real culprits are blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. These are the mediums where the concentration of the virus is high enough to pose a risk.

Does saliva Carry HIV? How do you even catch HIV?

So, where does saliva come into play?

Hold onto your pool floats, because here’s the deal: saliva isn’t only non-infectious but your saliva has anti-hiv properties. 

A plethora of researches has showcased that saliva usually contains only noninfectious components of HIV. This means, even if the virus is present, it’s generally broken down into parts that can’t transmit the disease.

In fact, for HIV transmission to occur via saliva, an incredibly large amount of the virus would need to be present. You’d likely need to drink at least two gallons of someone’s spit.

Even in instances where HIV-positive individuals had oral health issues leading to blood presence in saliva, the chances of transmission remained incredibly low.

The science bit?

It’s all about the hypotonic nature of saliva which disrupts infected cells, making it nearly impossible for the virus to multiply and transmit. Picture it as nature’s own defense mechanism.

Snaps for saliva, queens!

“But wait,” you might muse, looking perfectly concocted beverage thinking, “What about kissing?” Here’s a tantalizing teaser: the odds of transmitting HIV through smooching are, well… Let’s just say that you should head over to this saucy article to get all the juicy details.

Now, keep in mind, while saliva’s potential to transmit HIV is notably low, it doesn’t mean one can throw caution to the wind in all scenarios. Other infections can still be a party crasher. And remember, while HIV is one concern, it’s not the only one. But fear not, we’ll touch on that in a bit.

Serving Knowledge with a Splash of Sass: Wrapping it Up

As the sun sets on our little poolside narrative and the flicker of tiki torches illuminate the gathering, let’s take a moment to soak up all the knowledge we’ve drenched ourselves in today. The main question echoing in our minds—does saliva transmit HIV? —has been addressed with the precision of a perfectly blended cocktail. The verdict? It’s a resounding “unlikely” given the natural protective elements of our saliva.