Check Out 7 Common Symptoms Of HIV That Are Peculiar To Women- [CHECK OUT]

Human Immune Virus is a $exually transmitted disease that affects both men and women. This virus causes certain symptoms of which some are peculiar to the female gender.

According to VeryWellHealth, HIV symptoms that affect women mainly involve their reproductive tract. The symptoms may include:

1. Recurrent yeast infections

The condition, known as vaginal candidiasis, is the outcome of the overgrowth of a common kind of fungus called Candida. The frequency and intensity of yeast infection spike with a decrease in the CD4 count. Vaginal candidiasis is the counterpart to oral thrush which affects both men and women.

2. Vaginal ulcers

Herpes simplex virus type 2 is linked with genital herpes. For patients with HIV, the odds of herpes outbreaks increase at CD4 counts beneath 500. Female organ herpes is mostly the first manifestation of HIV in women (between 52 and 72% of HIV patients are thought to be coinfected with herpes simplex virus type 2).

3. Abnormal periods

Women that have HIV pass through more menstrual issues, including the absence of menstruation and infrequent menstruation, than women without HIV. The risk spikes with a decrease in the CD4 count. A low body mass index and untreated HIV infection are considered major risk factors.

 

4. Chronic pelvic pain

In a similar way that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can lead to HIV transmission, the persistent inflammation caused by HIV can make a woman prone to bacterial STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea. This leads to higher rates of pelvic inflammatory disease among women with HIV. Severe pelvic pain, irregular periods, and pain during intercourse are common features of pelvic inflammatory disease.

5. Impaired fertility

Pelvic inflammatory disease can cause severe complications in some women such as infertility and the growth of the fetus outside the womb. Because HIV weakens the immune response, pelvic inflammatory disease can continue even when treatment is prescribed. Women that have HIV are more vulnerable to complications of pelvic inflammatory disease than women without it.

6. Premature menopause

Premature menopause is the menopause that occurs before age 40. It can be experienced by women with HIV who smoke, have a low CD4 count, and do not exercise. Without these factors, women with HIV seem to experience menopause around the age of 50.

7. Bone problems

Back pain, stooped posture, height loss, and fragile bones are common symptoms of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can affect anyone but it mostly affects postmenopausal women. Among women with HIV, the risk of osteoporosis is 4 times higher than that of women without. More so, HIV infection, hepatitis C co-infection and some HIV medications are related to increased bone mineral loss.