# Can you transmit the common cold as an STD?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transmit-the-common-cold-as-an-std/491931>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 4, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transmit-the-common-cold-as-an-std/491931 "2009-04-04T01:45:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![FlippyFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FlippyFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlippyFly)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transmit-the-common-cold-as-an-std/491931/1 "2009-04-04T01:45:16Z")

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Can you transmit the common cold as an STD?

I know you can catch nasty things like HIV and such through unprotected sexual intercourse, but can you also transmit things like the common cold? If two people, one healthy and one sick were to engage in sexual activity but refrain from kissing or even close snuggling could the semen and vaginal secretions alone transmit the cold?

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**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transmit-the-common-cold-as-an-std/491931/2 "2009-04-04T02:25:45Z")

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No. It’s a respiratory virus.