Someone asked us:

Can HIV or hepatitis be transferred via saliva? As in, making out, or oral sex (on a woman)? Also, can either be transferred via his semen, or precum?

HIV and Hepatitis B (the type of hepatitis that is most likely to be sexually transmitted) are both spread through blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. Hepatitis B can also be spread through urine. You can’t spread HIV or hepatitis through making out. The only way they could possibly be spread through oral sex is if you have an open sore in your mouth that vaginal fluid or semen could get into.

HIV and hepatitis can be spread through a guy’s semen. There’s some uncertainty about whether all sexually transmitted infections that are spread through semen can also be spread through pre-cum, but better safe than sorry — use a condom from the first moment you have genital-to-genital contact to reduce your risk.

-Alex at Planned Parenthood