Dear Ryan i have had 2 very low risk sexual encounters in my life.First one involved touching of the tip of my penis for a second to the vagina of a prostitute. I was not wearing a condom then.Second one was a month later when I received unprotected oral sex from the prostitute. I did have some chilly feelings after the first incident but that was certainly not a fever. exactly 48 days after the first encounter and 14 days after the second i developed this swollen gland on the left side of my neck.which is still there for the last 5 and 1/2 months.But the point is I remember this particular gland to swell up before too that is before my encounters, atleast twice but certainly it did not remain swollen for this long time.It is usually painless but sometimes it becomes a bit irritating.Do you think it is a symptom of AIDS?I dont have any swellings in my armpit or groin.but just below my jaw there is another bump where i believe a very small gland has swollen up.Do you think AIDS sypmtoms appear so early? I am getting married next month.Do you think I should get tested?please help me since i am very confused. I have read a thousand of your replies and i dont think I am infected ,but a personalised reply will be highly appreciated. May god bless you. I am 26 and from calcutta, India

Sexual transmission of HIV is known to be spread through the following three ways:

1) Anal sex, receptive or insertive

2) Vaginal sex, receptive or insertive

3) Oral sex, receptive fellatio or insertive cunnulingus (transmission to the person whose mouth is on the genitals)

If your sexual behavior does not fall into any of the above categories, then it is EXTREMELY unlikely that you will become infected through sexual contact. There is no specific evidence that HIV is transmitted through receiving oral sex or by touching the penis to the partner's vagina.

The bottom line: the most common and likely route of sexual transmission of HIV is through penile-vaginal or penile-anal intercourse. Oral transmission is possible, but much lower risk (again, only to the person whose mouth is on the genitals). There is no evidence supporting other forms of sexual transmission. This means that your symptoms are unlikely to be associated to HIV infection.

RMK