Signs And Symptoms Of Hiv In Women

Written By Egbodo Peter

According to WebMD the symptoms of HIV are mostly the same for men and women. But there can be some differences between the genders.

Women’s HIV Symptoms

There are a few signs that happen only in women, often in the later stages of infection:

Changes In Your Period: You may have lighter or heavier bleeding, skip periods, or have severe PMS. Stress or other STDs, which are common with HIV, can cause these issues. But they may also happen because of the virus’s effects on your immune system, which may change your hormones.

Read More: Difference-between-hiv-and-aids

Lower Belly Pain: This is one of the signs of an infection of your uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can also cause:

• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Fever
• Irregular periods
• Pain during sex
• Pain in your upper belly

Vaginal Yeast Infections: Many women with HIV get these often, sometimes several times a year. When you get a yeast infection, you can have:

• Thick white discharge from your vagina
• Pain during sex
• Pain when you pee
• Vaginal burning or soreness.

Cervical Cancer: While not a symptom of HIV, cervical cancer can be an AIDS-defining condition. Women with HIV should be screened for cervical cancer annually and treated as needed.