HIV and AIDS

“As a woman living with HIV, one of the most important relationships you will have is with your doctor. Finding the right doctor can have a big impact on your well-being”.1

Umbrella

What may the HIV and AIDS Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • AIDS
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
  • HIV
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV

What is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?

DotS the definition of HIV may vary. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition is:

“Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system”.2

How can HIV be transmitted?

In HIV and AIDS: Transmission the WHO explain:

“HIV can be transmitted via the exchange of body fluids from people living with HIV, including blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal secretions. HIV can also be transmitted to a child during pregnancy and delivery. People cannot become infected with HIV through ordinary day-to-day contact such as kissing, hugging, shaking hands, or sharing personal objects, food or water”.3

AIDS

What is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)?

DotS the definition of AIDS may vary. The WHO’s definition is:

“Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurs at the most advanced stage of infection”.4

In HIV and AIDS: Overview the (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:

“AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name for a collection of serious illnesses caused by the HIV virus.

AIDS is now often called late-stage or advanced HIV. In the UK, most people being treated for HIV do not develop AIDS”.5

Common or Not

How common is HIV?

In HIV and AIDS: Key Facts, dated 15 July 2025, the WHO include:

  • “There were an estimated 40.8 million people living with HIV at the end of 2024, 65% of whom are in the WHO African Region”.6

Women

How many women are affected by HIV?

In HIV and Women the (United Kingdom) Avert’s, Be In the Know elaborate on:

  • “Of all new HIV infections in 2021, 49% were among women and girls”.7

In HIV and AIDS, dated 18 February 2021, the Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov note:

“One in four people in the United States with HIV is female. In the United States, women are most likely to get HIV from having sex with a man”.8

HIV Test

How do you know if you have HIV?

In Get Tested for HIV: The Basics – Overview the (United States) MyHealthfinder elaborate on:

“The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. You could have HIV and still feel healthy”.9

STIs

Is there an association between sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV?

In HIV: Preventing HIV – Prevention Steps and Strategies: Get Tested and Treated for Other STIs the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain:

  • “If you have another STI, you are more likely to get HIV”.10

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and HIV?

In Menopause and HIV: Menopause In People Living With HIV, dated January 2021, the (United Kingdom) Aidsmap explain:

“The interaction between menopause and HIV is under-researched, but the evidence base is growing.

Women living with HIV often experience menopausal symptoms. A number of studies have found that women living with HIV are more likely to experience symptoms than women who do not have HIV. This includes sexual symptoms such as a lack of interest in sex and vaginal dryness, bodily symptoms such as hot flushes, and psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety”.11

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have HIV?

If you think you have HIV, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this as soon as possible.

In HIV and AIDS: Living With HIV – Finding Your HIV Care Team Womenshealth.gov elaborate on:

“As a woman living with HIV, one of the most important relationships you will have is with your doctor. Finding the right doctor can have a big impact on your well-being”.12

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to HIV and AIDS?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to HIV/AIDS?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. A Girl Like Me LIVE: Episode 31: National HIV Testing Day [26 June 2024]
  2. Addressing Menopause In Women Living With HIV: Update From CROI 2025
  3. Age At Menopause In Women Living With HIV: A Systematic Review
  4. Aidsmap.com: Women
  5. Ask Early Menopause [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  6. Avert. info [Avert, United Kingdom]
  7. Beintheknow.org
  8. Bone Loss, Osteoporosis, and HIV
  9. Breaking Silos In HIV and Menopause Care: Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN
  10. Clinical Considerations for Menopause and Associated Symptoms In Women With HIV
  11. Collection of Menopause Data In Studies of Women Living With HIV: A Systematic Literature Review
  12. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Premature and Early Menopause
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  14. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Nutrition At Menopause and Why It Is Important
  15. Contraception: Information for People With HIV
  16. Dr Nneka Nwokolo on the Menopause and HIV – GROWS Project [+ Video]
  17. Early HIV Symptoms: What Are They?
  18. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  19. Beintheknow.org: Get the Facts About Sexual Health and Relationships
  20. First Symptoms of Menopause
  21. Glossary
  22. Guide To Menopause for Women Living With HIV: A Guide To Menopause for Women Living With HIV
    HIV and AIDS
  23. HIV
  24. HIV
  25. HIV
  26. HIV Basics
  27. HIV Testing: Questions for the Doctor
  28. HIV Treatment
  29. HIV and AIDS
  30. HIV and STIs
  31. HIV and Women
  32. HIV and Women’s Health Issues: Gynecological Health Issues and HIV
  33. HIV and Women’s Health Issues: How Does HIV Affect Women Differently?
  34. HIV/AIDS
  35. HIV/AIDS In Women
  36. HIV: About HIV
  37. HIV: Fast Facts: HIV and Gay and Bisexual Men
  38. HIV: Fast Facts: HIV and Transgender People
  39. HIV: Living With HIV
  40. HIV: Preventing HIV
  41. HIV: Treating HIV
  42. HRT Questions Answered
  43. Hiv.gov
  44. How Do Women Living With HIV Experience Menopause? Menopausal Symptoms, Anxiety and Depression According To Reproductive Age In A Multicenter Cohort
  45. How Do You Get HIV? [+ Video]
  46. Iasociety.org [International AIDS Society]
  47. Languages
  48. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Myths] [Other Languages and Formats]
  49. Low Sexual Function Is Associated With Menopausal Status In Mid-Aged Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
  50. Management of Menopause In Women Living With HIV – A Comparative Guideline Review
  51. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  52. Mayo Clinic Minute: Know Your Status—The Importance of HIV Testing [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  53. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease In Women With and Without Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  54. Menopausal Women Living With HIV Need Better Information on How To Manage Symptoms
  55. Menopause
  56. Menopause
    HIV and AIDS
  57. Menopause Care In Women Living With HIV In the UK – A Review
  58. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    HIV and AIDS
  59. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    HIV/AIDS
  60. Menopause May Start Earlier for Aging Women With HIV
  61. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  62. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  63. Menopause Symptoms Delineated By HIV Clinical Characteristics In African American Women With HIV
  64. Menopause and HIV [+ Slide Presentation]
  65. Menopause and HIV [+ Video]
  66. Menopause and Sleep
  67. Menopause and Women Living With HIV [Video]
  68. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  69. Menopause: Your Choice of Language
  70. Nat.org.uk [National AIDS Trust, United Kingdom]
  71. National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention [United States]
  72. National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day [18 September 2024, United States]
  73. National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2025 [10 March]
    HIV and AIDS
  74. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
  75. On Our Own Terms (OOOT)
  76. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  77. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  78. Positivelyuk [Positively UK: GROWS Women With HIV Growing Older Wiser and Stronger]
  79. Preventing HIV With PrEP [+ Video: PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)]
  80. Rightspath.unaids.org [Take the Rights Path, United Nations]
  81. Sophiaforum.net [Sophia Forum, United Kingdom]
  82. Switch To An Integrase Inhibitor Leads To Greater Weight During and After the Menopause
  83. T-Cell Count
  84. The Prevalence and Patterns of Menopausal Symptoms In Women Living With HIV
  85. Thewellproject.org [The Well Project, United States]
  86. Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir or Daily F/TAF for HIV Prevention In Cisgender Women
  87. Unaids.org [UNAIDS]
  88. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  89. Webinars: Lifestyle Medicine
  90. Webinars: Symposia – What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  91. What Are HIV and AIDS? What Is AIDS?
  92. What Are HIV and AIDS? What Is HIV?
  93. What Is the Menopause?HIV/AIDS
  94. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  95. Why A Holistic Approach To HIV and Menopause Matters
  96. Women and HIV: Get the Facts on HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment
  97. World AIDS Day 2025
    HIV and AIDS
  98. World AIDS Day 2025
    HIV and AIDS
  99. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
    HIV and AIDS
  100. World Menopause Day 2025 [18 October]
    HIV and AIDS

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. HIV and AIDS: Living With HIV – Finding Your HIV Care Team. Last Updated: 23 October 2025. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/hiv-and-aids/living-hiv Accessed: 30 November 2025
  2. HIV and AIDS: Overview. 15 July 2025. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids Accessed: 30 November 2025
  3. HIV and AIDS: Transmission. 15 July 2025. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids Accessed: 30 November 2025
  4. HIV and AIDS: Overview. 15 July 2025. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids Accessed: 30 November 2025
  5. HIV and AIDS: Overview. Page Last Reviewed: 09 July 2025. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/ Accessed: 30 November 2025
  6. HIV and AIDS: Key Facts. 15 July 2025. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids Accessed: 30 November 2025
  7. HIV and Women. Last Updated: 31 March 2023. Last Full Review: 01 March 2022. Be In the Know https://www.beintheknow.org/understanding-hiv-epidemic/community/hiv-and-women Accessed: 30 November 2025
  8. HIV and AIDS. Page Last Updated: 18 February 2021. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/hiv-and-aids Accessed: 30 November 2025
  9. Get Tested for HIV: The Basics – Overview. Content Last Updated: 31 January 2025. MyHealthfinder https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/topics/health-conditions/hiv-and-other-stds/get-tested-hiv Accessed: 30 November 2025
  10. HIV: Preventing HIV – Prevention Steps and Strategies: Get Tested and Treated for Other STIs. 26 September 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/prevention/index.html Accessed: 30 November 2025
  11. Menopause and HIV: Menopause In People Living With HIV. January 2021. Aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/menopause-and-hiv Accessed: 30 November 2025
  12. HIV and AIDS: Living With HIV – Finding Your HIV Care Team. Last Updated: 23 October 2025. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/hiv-and-aids/living-hiv Accessed: 30 November 2025
Topic Last Updated: 30 November 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 30 November 2025

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