HIV Symptoms in Women that Should Not Be Ignored

HIV symptoms in women are generally not much different from HIV symptoms in men. However, there are some HIV symptoms that are only found in female patients, such as menstrual disorders, genital discharge, or sores on intimate organs that often recur and are difficult to heal.

There are several factors that can increase a woman’s risk of HIV infection, such as having unprotected intercourse and having more than one intimate partner.

Some Symptoms of HIV in Women
HIV symptoms in every woman are not always the same, depending on the condition of the body and the stage of infection

Early HIV symptoms and signs usually appear 2-6 weeks after infection. At this stage, HIV-infected women may not realise that they are infected because the initial symptoms are similar to those of the flu.

This early stage is also known as the window period. If a woman is still in the window period, the HIV test result is likely to be negative, even though the HIV virus is already in the blood and can be transmitted.

HIV symptoms in women will usually only appear when HIV infection enters an advanced stage. From the entry of the virus into the body to causing symptoms can take up to 10 years.

The following, according to Healthline are symptoms of HIV in women that should not be ignored.

1. Recurrent genital infections

Genital infections as a symptom of HIV in women are generally caused by genital candidiasis. Although it can be experienced by all women, genital infections in HIV-infected women will usually recur more often and are difficult to treat. This is a sign that the immune system is weakening.

Genital infections can cause the following symptoms:
¶White thick vaginal discharge;
¶Itching and rash in the genitalia;
¶Stinging sensation in the genital area;
¶Pain during urination and intercourse;

2. Pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen

Another symptom of HIV in women is pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis (pelvic inflammation). This condition is caused by infection of the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes.

As with genital yeast infections, pelvic inflammatory disease in HIV patients is usually more difficult to treat and recurs more often.

In addition to pain in the lower abdomen, other symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease that need to be considered are foul-smelling genital discharge, menstrual irregularities, fever, and pain during intercourse or urination.

3. Menstrual disorders
Several studies have shown that menstrual disorders are common among HIV-infected women, especially when the HIV infection has entered an advanced stage.

Menstrual disorders can include irregular menstrual cycles, more or less menstrual blood, and the appearance of PMS complaints that are more severe than before. However, menstrual disorders should be suspected if they are accompanied by several other HIV symptoms.

4. Frequent illness or infection
The HIV virus that attacks the immune system can make sufferers often sick or susceptible to infection. When infected, people with HIV can experience some of the following symptoms:
¶Fever;
¶Cough that is difficult to heal or often recurs;
¶Sore throat;
¶Fatigue;
¶Night sweats;
¶Chronic diarrhoea;
¶Shortness of breath;
¶Muscle pain;
¶Thrush in the vagina, tongue, or mouth;
¶Swollen lymph nodes;
¶Rash;
¶Weight loss for no apparent reason;
¶Candidiasis fungal infection in the mouth.

The occurrence of HIV symptoms in women above, especially if it lasts long enough or recurs very often, may indicate that the HIV infection has progressed to AIDS.

When the immune system is weakened, several other infectious diseases, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), toxoplasmosis, and meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain), will be very vulnerable. In addition, people suffering from HIV, both men and women, will also be susceptible to cancers, such as lymphoma and Kaposi’s sarcoma.

The Right Time to See a Doctor:
If you are at high risk of HIV infection, such as having unprotected intercourse, injecting drugs with shared needles, or having a intimate partner with HIV, you should see a doctor for a check-up and HIV test.

SOURCE: HealthLine

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