I Think I Have Hiv But Am Not Sure

Hi there.
Since you had unprotected sex (not clear whether this was vaginal or anal sex - you do not indicate whether you're male or female), there is a risk of becoming infected with hiv from someone who has the virus. Try not to worry though, as chances are still in your favour that you have not become infected, based on the statistic that each episode of sex carries around 0.5 - 3% risk. However, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of using protection during sex, particularly with a new partner.

Precum, the fluid which is secreted prior to ejaculation, has been shown to have hiv in it, and is therefore at least a theoretical risk for transmission. But the chances are quite low. If as you say there was no semen involved (though I can't imagine you wouldn't be able to tell for yourself), the risk is reduced somewhat, since semen carries quite a quantity of the hiv virus.

As for symptoms, it's not advisable to speculate about your hiv status based on any of them. Fever is the most common symptom of early infection, and generalised swelling of the lymph nodes - which are principally located in the groin, armpits, neck. One word of advise - refrain from obsessively feeling for them as this will cause them to swell. However, having a fever and swollen nodes is usually normal - you say that you haven't been around anyone sick - how on earth do you know that? In fact, people are most contagious in illneses such as flu and colds when they themselves feel fine, prior to the onset of illness. So you wouldn't be able to tell.

Anyway, there are two very important things you must do now. Firstly, stop having unprotected sex. If indeed your partner is hiv+ (which is not statistically likely), you will be infected eventually if you continue unprotected. Secondly, get tested for hiv at least three months after your last unprotected encounter - three months is considered time enough for an accurate reading of the hiv antibodies that your body will produce. Any testing before three months will be indicative but not conclusive. If you wish you take an accurate test before this time, there is a test which looks for the hiv itself and is accurate after only a couple of weeks since exposure, but this is very expensive and runs into the hundreds of dollars.
I'm afraid your situation does warrant testing, but try not to worry. I hope i've been of some help.
Good luck and be safe.

Yes, I went the route of what fitness indicated.

He's talking about a pcr test checking your body for the virus itself, not the antibodies which could take months to produce a detectable amount.

The pcr tests for the rna of the hiv virus. It does tend to produce about 10% of false positives, so be aware. However, I needed a clue. I just wanted to have some idea.

I took a dna test for hiv at day 10, a p24 antigin test at day 10, an pcr-rna test at day 20 and an elisa test at day 22. All negative!

Here's the problem! None of the results are conclusive until you confirm them with an elisa at week 13. After day 28, the pcr tests are considered conclusive only with an elisa at week 13.

Further, nothing is ever conclusive with hiv. I think you may have dodged the bullet. I'll send a prayer your way, ok?

Also, you must keep in mind that hiv is easier to contract as a woman. Take extra responsibility, or don't have sex at all.