Question
What is seroconversion and what are the symptoms?
10 February 2023. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission.
Answer
HIV seroconversion is a very early stage of HIV infection. It is the time when a person first develops antibodies for HIV.
At this point an HIV antibody test will still be negative. The word just means that your sero status is converting from being HIV antibody negative to HIV antibody positive.
Seroconversion usually occurs starts 1-3 weeks after infection, with average time being around 10 days. Although 4 in 5 people (80%) get symptoms, 1 in 5 (20%) do not.
Seroconversion does not occur if you are on PEP, because PEP drugs suppress the virus. The timing mentioned above would start after the last PEP dose – ie 10 days after the PEP ends.
Symptoms
The symptoms of HIV seroconversion resemble those of a heavy cold or flu.
They commonly involve multiple symptoms that all occur at the same time. They last about a week and then resolve. If you get this heavy response and recently had a risk, it is more important to contact a doctor or clinic. This can decide your level of risk and the best time to test.
However, lots of people get some of these symptoms and it does not mean they are HIV positive. Stress and anxiety can produce similar general symptoms even though without HIV. This includes tiredness from not sleeping, anxiety and worry.
The most common HIV seroconversion symptoms include a combination of several of the following:
- Fatigue (tiredness).
- Fever (high temperature).
- Sore throat.
- Rash.
- Headache.
- Loss of appetite.
- Aching muscles and joints.
- Swollen lymph glands.
Seroconversion involves several symptoms that all start at the same time. Only having one or two of these symptoms is unlikely to be HIV.
These symptoms are not a reliable way of diagnosing HIV infection.
Firstly, 20% of people who become infected with HIV have no symptoms. Secondly, none of the symptoms listed above, on their own, are an indication of HIV.
However, if you get several of these symptoms at the same time AND you have had a recent risk of exposure to HIV, then this MIGHT be an indication of infection.
The only way to know if you are HIV positive is by taking an HIV test. More information on tests is at this link.
If you have recently been exposed to HIV, or think you may have been exposed to HIV, then contact a doctor or sexual health clinic to talk about whether testing for HIV is appropriate.
This answer was updated in 2016, 2018 and 2023 from an original Q&A from 2008. i-Base no longer answers individual questions about HIV transmission and risk. (See: Question 1 at this link).
Hey on the 22nd of last month I had a one nite stand with a complete stranger after a few drinks. The day after I began to experience swollen lymph nodes in my groin area accompanied by a burning sensation on the inner side of my thighs this lasted for three weeks straight. I also experienced a slight sense of nausea from a few days. Almost a month later I feel fine just a bit of anxiety that I have caught something. Despite using a condom which I fear might have torn. What are the chances that I have HIV/AIDS?
HIV is not transmitted by kissing or deep kissing.
You can find out about other ways that HIV is not transmitted here.
Six months ago i shared a bed with an HIV positive lady. We never had sex but we kissed a lot. Three months later I started feeling a headache and muscle pains. After that I experienced sore throat a month later which took a week…the sore throat is over and now am experiencing night sweat. Am I infected?
It’s not easy to get HIV. But the way to find out if you are HIV positive is to get tested.
Please see this link for testing questions:
https://i-base.info/qa/#not
Hello there, I think I have been exposed to possible HIV positive person. 3 days ago we shared a bed. But there was no penetration happened. Not even a blow job. There was a lot of kissing and cum everywhere. Are there any chances for me to get HIV from the situation?
‘Rapid’ refers to the time taken for the results, and not the time between exposure and testing.
The results come back as HIV negative, HIV positive, or indeterminate (unclear). A positive result needs to be confirmed by a different test. And an indeterminate test needs to be done again.
You should talk to your doctor or your clinic about the accuracy of the test.
I tested negative after 6 weeks of exposure using rapid card. Do I need to test again.
Hi, Getting tested is the way to find out if you’re HIV positive. But you have to wait for 28 days after exposure so that your body has time to produce antibodies to HIV. In 95% of tests this is accurate, but 5% of people take longer to produce antibodies. But you can confirm the test after 3 months.
I found out last week that the guy I had bareback sex with in April and May is HIV+ from a test result he just got. He got tested cause his ex was diagnosed recently and he was feeling run down. I bottomed for him 6 times and he shot his load in my ass. I have to wait til after June 15 I was told to get tested. I dont have any symptoms but very tired at end of work day and I have a strong feeling that I have a very high probability of testing Positive.
Hi,
It is difficult to comment on wether your symptom are related to ARVs without knowing which ones you are on. If you tell me the names of your meds i might be able to give you more relevant information. It is important to tell you clinic or doctor about your symptoms. This is especially important because they involve pain. They can help you work out what is causing them and how to treat them.