Women and HIV

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

07 Jun 2006 08:55 AM

In the twenty-five years that HIV has been in the public eye, the number of women affected by the disease has increased. Approximately eight percent of cases in 1985 were women; in 2004, that number increased to 27%.

Women are actually more susceptible to HIV infection through sexual intercourse, because they have more mucous membranes exposed to potentially infected bodily fluids. A woman is twice as likely as a man to get an HIV infection during sex. As the disease progresses, women may experience recurring yeast infections and cervical cancer.

If you are infected with HIV and become pregnant, you could possibly pass the disease to your child at any time -- during pregnancy, during the delivery, or while breast feeding. Not sure if you have HIV? You're not alone. One in four people with HIV do not know they have it, and pass it on to their partners without ever realizing what they've done until it is too late. Get tested for HIV. If you are pregnant and have the virus, talk to your doctor about how you can protect your baby.

Talk to your partner about your relationship. Insist that one or both of you use a condom -- the female condom is just as effective as the male condom. Talk about abstinence and faithfulness... and don't be afraid to ask your partner to get tested for HIV. Most forms of birth control do not prevent the spread of HIV. Only latex condoms can protect you from coming into contact with infected bodily fluids. Ideally, you should abstain from sex until you are in a relationship with only one partner and you know each other's HIV status.

Knowing about your partner's sexual and drug history can help protect you from contracting HIV. Knowing your own history is just as important. Get tested for HIV! Encourage your partner(s) to get tested. Even if you think you are a low risk for the infection... get tested anyway.

Keep in mind that using drugs and alcohol can impair your judgment and result in riskier sex. HIV can also be passed through contaminated or shared needles.

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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