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HIV Symptoms in Women

There are few symptoms of HIV infection that occur in women that do not occur in men, but there are differences in the severity of some of the symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control, women account for over 43 percent of the total HIV-positive population, a number which has been rising since the beginning of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.

  1. Acute Infection

    • During the acute, or early, infection stage of HIV infection, some infected individuals will display no outward symptoms. Others will experience flu-like symptoms of varying severity. Women who are in the acute infection stage of HIV infection may also notice changes in their menstrual cycles, either by starting their period early or late, or by missing their period entirely.

    Psychological Symptoms

    • While psychological symptoms of HIV infection can occur in both men and women, these psychological problems are generally more severe in women. Common psychological problems associated with HIV include depression, anxiety, forgetfulness, sexual dysfunctions, and even dementia.

    Vaginal Symptoms

    • Women with HIV infections are likely to have frequent or persistent yeast infections, and these infections will generally not respond well to typical over-the-counter medications. Other vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis and an increased susceptibility to sexually-transmitted diseases are also common for women with HIV. Doctors generally prescribe antifungals such as fluconazole in order to help control yeast infections, and strong antibiotics to help control other infections.

    Other Physical Symptoms

    • A number of HIV-positive women will report high levels of fatigue, even during periods when the HIV infection isn't producing other physical symptoms. While men may experience fatigue as well, their fatigue generally isn't as severe as that which is experienced by women. Other physical symptoms which typically affect women with HIV include unexplained weight loss, lypodystrophy (changes in the way that body fat is distributed), night sweats, and dizziness.

    Opportunistic Infections

    • In addition to having a higher frequency of sexually-transmitted infections, women may be more likely to encounter other opportunistic infections as well. Some of these opportunistic infections may simply be inconvenient, while others such as HPV and PID can increase the likelihood of a woman developing cervical cancer or other serious conditions and may also lead to infertility.

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