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HIV in Women
Certain strains of HIV may infect women more easily. The strain of HIV present in Thailand seems to transmit more easily to women through sexual intercourse.
Researchers believe that women and receptive partners are more easily infected with HIV, compared to the insertive partner. Receptive partners are at greater risk for transmission of any sexually transmitted disease, including HIV.
Courtesy of the National Institutes of Health.
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Women infected with HIV are at increased risk for a number of gynecological problems, including pelvic inflammatory disease, abscesses of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, and recurrent yeast infections. Some studies have found that HIV-infected women have a higher prevalence of infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). Cervical dysplasia is a precancerous condition of the cervix cause by certain strains of HPV. Cervical dysplasia in HIV-infected women often becomes more aggressive as the woman's immune system declines. This may lead to invasive cervical carcinoma, which is an AIDS-indicator condition. It is important for women with HIV to have more frequent Pap tests.
Several studies have shown that women with HIV in the U.S. receive less healthcare services and HIV medications, compared to men. This may be because women are not diagnosed or tested as frequently as men.
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Infection
