There are a few terms used to understand the different phases of HIV infection. These include: transmission, acute HIV, seroconversion illness, and, if untreated, AIDS.

 

Transmission

HIV moves from one person to another through some bodily fluids. These include blood, cum and pre-cum, anal fluid, vaginal fluid, or breast milk. HIV can only cause infection when one of these fluids gets into another person’s body — through broken skin, the hole at the end of penis, or in the wet linings (also called mucus membranes) of the body such as the inside of the anus, vagina, urethra (pee-hole) or foreskin.

It cannot be transmitted through sweat, spit, snot, urine (pee), or any other fluid typically encountered in daily life that doesn’t have any blood in it. HIV can cause infection by coming into contact with your anus (butthole), front hole (vagina), penis and very rarely, your mouth. There’s lots more to know about HIV transmission and sex.

 

After HIV infection occurs

If you acquire HIV, leaving it untreated will negatively impact your health. Research is very clear that getting connected to care early is the best way to maintain your long-term health. HIV infects human CD4 T cells. These immune cells are important for keeping you healthy. Without treatment, HIV can replicate (or make copies of itself) inside immune cells very quickly, depleting those CD4 T cells along the way. Loss of these cells affects your whole immune system. If your immune system is weakened, it may not be able to fight off serious illnesses or age-related diseases as effectively.

Acute HIV:

Acute HIV is the first stage of HIV infection. Levels of HIV are typically highest in the body in the first few weeks after infection occurs. In this time frame typical antibody tests can’t detect HIV.

It can take a few weeks for your body to produce antibodies in response to HIV. The first few weeks after HIV is transmitted is when viral load is highest — meaning there are lots of copies of the virus in the body. During this time, the chances of transmitting HIV to sexual partners are higher than at other stages of HIV infection.

Flu-like symptoms and other symptoms may occur during this time, though not everyone experiences them.

Seroconversion Illness:

The only way to know your status for sure is to get tested, but there are a few symptoms that may appear in the few weeks after HIV transmission, which is called “seroconversion illness.” During this period, the virus begins replicating itself rapidly, depleting your CD4 T Immune cells. This is the period when you are most contagious. HIV doesn’t always show any symptoms right away. However, if you think you may have been exposed to HIV and you’re feeling any of these symptoms, it’s best to go get tested right away and do it again in three months.

In some cases, early Symptoms of HIV include:

• Fever and flu-like symptoms
• Swollen glands in your armpits, groin and neck
• Feeling tired all of the time
• Sore muscles and joints
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Rashes on your torso
• Night sweats
• Mouth ulcers

Many of these symptoms can be caused by other diseases or illnesses, so having them doesn’t necessarily mean you have been infected with HIV. Getting tested is the only way to determine your HIV status.

Asymptomatic Infection and AIDS:

Sometimes it takes years to notice the effects of HIV. After the early stages, HIV is still active, but copies itself at lower levels. This period is called asymptomatic infection.

For folks who aren’t getting treated for HIV, the virus can weaken the body’s immune system even further and lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). A person with AIDS’ immune system can get so weak that people can get all kinds of different serious illnesses and infections. Because of modern testing, awareness campaigns, and treatment options, HIV infection becoming AIDS is incredibly rare, especially in Canada where most folks have access to treatment.

If you think you’re HIV-negative but you haven’t been tested in a while, remember that it’s important to get tested for HIV frequently if you’re having sex or using shared injection or drug equipment, whether or not you have symptoms. Being diagnosed early is one of the best ways to access treatment quicker, avoid passing the virus on to someone, and better support your overall health in the long run.

This section was adapted, with permission, from The Sex You Want Website.
*disclaimer: we do not necessarily endorse all of the information, content, or language used in these references