HIV in Women
Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source
MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.
What is HIV?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It harms your immune system by destroying a type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infection. This puts you at risk for other infections and diseases.
How does HIV spread?
HIV can spread in different ways:
- By having unprotected vaginal or anal sex with a person who has HIV. "Unprotected" means not using condoms or medicine to treat or prevent HIV. This is the most common way it spreads.
- Anal sex is the riskiest type of sex for getting or spreading HIV. The rectum's lining is thin and may allow HIV to enter the body during anal sex.
- During vaginal sex, HIV can enter the body through the delicate tissue that lines the vagina and cervix.
- Rarely, through oral sex with a person who has HIV.
- By sharing drug needles.
- Through contact with the blood of a person who has HIV.
- From mother to fetus during pregnancy.
- From mother to baby during childbirth, or breastfeeding.
How does HIV affect women differently from men?
About one in four people in the United States who have HIV are women. Women who have HIV have some different problems than men:
- Complications such as
- Repeated vaginal yeast infections
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Severe pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- A higher risk of cervical cancer
- Menstrual cycle problems
- A higher risk of osteoporosis
- A higher risk of heart disease, especially heart attacks
- Entering menopause younger or having more severe hot flashes
- Different, sometimes more severe, side effects from the medicines that treat HIV
- Drug interactions between some HIV medicines and hormonal birth control
- The risk of giving HIV to their fetus while pregnant
- The risk of giving HIV to their baby during childbirth or breastfeeding
Are there treatments for HIV?
There is no cure, but there are many medicines to treat both HIV infection and the infections and cancers that come with it. People who get early treatment can live longer and healthier lives.
Symptoms, tests and care options
Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.
- HIV Testing · Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health
Questions for your care team
General prompts to help prepare for your appointment.
- How does this information apply to my situation?
- Which symptoms or results need evaluation?
- Which tests are useful, and what can they tell us?
- What care options, benefits, and risks should we discuss?
- When should I seek urgent help, and whom should I call?
- When is follow-up, and how will we know whether the plan is working?
For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number.
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