HIV/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/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:

“The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) targets the immune system and weakens people’s defense against many infections and some types of cancer that people with healthy immune systems can more easily fight off. As the virus destroys and impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient. Immune function is typically measured by CD4 cell count”.2

How can HIV be transmitted?

In HIV/AIDS: Transmission the WHO explain:

“HIV can be transmitted via the exchange of a variety of body fluids from infected people, such as blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal secretions. HIV can also be transmitted from a mother to her child during pregnancy and delivery. Individuals cannot become infected 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. In HIV and AIDS: Overview the (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:

“AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name used to describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when your immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus”.4

The WHO’s definition is:

“The most advanced stage of HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which can take many years to develop if not treated, depending on the individual. AIDS is defined by the development of certain cancers, infections or other severe long-term clinical manifestations”.5

Common or Not

How common is HIV?

In HIV/AIDS: Key Facts the WHO note:

  • “There were an estimated 38.4 million [33.9–43.8 million] people living with HIV at the end of 2021, two thirds of whom (25.6 million) are in the WHO African Region”.6

Women

How many women are affected by HIV?

In Women and Girls, HIV and AIDS Be In the Know elaborate on:

  • “Of all new HIV infections in 2020 among adults, 51% were among women”.7

In HIV and AIDS 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

STDs

Is there an association between sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV?

In HIV/AIDS & STDs: STDs and HIV – CDC Fact Sheet: Why Does Having An STD Put Me More At Risk for Getting HIV? the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain:

“If you get an STD, you are more likely to get HIV than someone who is STD-free. This is because the same behaviors and circumstances that may put you at risk for getting an STD also can put you at greater risk for getting HIV. In addition, having a sore or break in the skin from an STD may allow HIV to more easily enter your body. If you are sexually active, get tested for STDs and HIV regularly, even if you don’t have symptoms”.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 related to HIV/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 Double Whammy: The Impact of HIV and Menopause on Bone Mineral Density
  2. A Girl Like Me LIVE
  3. A Girl Like Me LIVE: A Girl Like Me Episode 27: HIV, Women and Sexual Pleasure
  4. About PrEP [+ Video: PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)]
  5. Age At Menopause In Women Living With HIV: A Systematic Review
  6. Aidsmap: Dr Shema Tariq on the Menopause and HIV – GROWS Project [Video]
  7. Aidsmap.com: Women
  8. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  9. Avert.org [Global Information and Education on HIV and AIDS]
  10. Beardedandflushed.com [Bearded & Flushed, United Kingdom]
  11. COVID-19 and HIV [+ Video: Are You at Higher Risk for Sever Illness?]
  12. Clinical Considerations for Menopause and Associated Symptoms In Women With HIV
  13. Clinicalinfo.hiv.gov [Clinical Info HIV.gov]
  14. Consumer Health: Preventing HIV/AIDS — Know How To Keep Yourself and Others Safe
  15. Contraception: Information for People With HIV
  16. COVID-19 and People With HIV
  17. Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
  18. Dr Nneka Nwokolo on the Menopause and HIV – GROWS Project
  19. Early HIV Symptoms: What Are They?
  20. Glossary
  21. Guide To Menopause for Women Living With HIV: A Guide To Menopause for Women Living With HIV
    HIV/AIDS
  22. HIV
  23. HIV
  24. HIV Basics
  25. HIV Testing: Questions for the Doctor
  26. HIV Treatment
  27. HIV and African American People
  28. HIV and Women
  29. HIV and Women Who Have Sex With Women Fact Sheet
  30. HIV and Women’s Health Issues: Gynecological Health Issues and HIV
  31. HIV and Women’s Health Issues: How Does HIV Affect Women Differently?
  32. HIV/AIDS
  33. HIV/AIDS
  34. HIV/AIDS & STDs
  35. HIV/AIDS In Women
  36. HIV/AIDS & STDs and HIV: STDs and HIV – CDC Basic Fact Sheet
  37. HIV: HIV Basics [+ Video]
  38. HIV: HIV Risk and Prevention
  39. HIV: HIV Testing
  40. HIV: HIV and Women
  41. Hiv.gov
  42. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  43. How Do Women Living With HIV Experience Menopause? Menopausal Symptoms, Anxiety and Depression According To Reproductive Age In A Multicenter Cohort
  44. How Do You Get HIV? [+ Video]
  45. How Is HIV Transmitted?
  46. Iasociety.org [International AIDS Society]
  47. Languages
  48. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Early and Premature Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Only Happens In Your 50s]
  49. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause]
  50. Let’s Stop HIV Together
    Let’s Stop HIV Together
  51. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  52. Low Sexual Function Is Associated With Menopausal Status In Mid-Aged Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
  53. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: The Importance of HIV Testing [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic]
  54. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease In Women With and Without Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  55. Menopausal Women Living With HIV Need Better Information on How To Manage Symptoms
  56. Menopause
  57. Menopause
  58. Menopause Care In Women Living With HIV In the UK – A Review
  59. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    HIV/AIDS
  60. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    HIV/AIDS
  61. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  62. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: What Is Menopause?
  63. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  64. Menopause Symptoms Delineated By HIV Clinical Characteristics In African American Women With HIV
  65. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  66. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  67. Menopause and HIV [+ Slide Presentation]
  68. Menopause and HIV [+ Video]
  69. Menopause and Women Living With HIV
  70. Menopause for Women Living With HIV: How Can We Support Women Through This Transition? [Webinar]
  71. More Questions Than Answers When Managing HIV and Menopause
  72. Nat.org.uk [National AIDS Trust, United Kingdom]
  73. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) /AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
  74. National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
  75. National HIV/AIDS Strategy (2022-2025) [United States]
  76. National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – March 10
  77. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  78. On Our Own Terms (OOOT)
  79. Positivelyuk [Positively UK: GROWS Women With HIV Growing Older Wiser and Stronger]
  80. PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
  81. Prevalence and Correlates of Early-Onset Menopause Among Women Living With HIV In Canada
  82. HIV/AIDSPositive tRansItions Through Menopause (PRIME) [+ Menopause In Women Living With HIV In England: Findings From the Prime Study]
  83. Protect Yourself During Sex [+ Video: HIV Prevention]
  84. Safer Sex
  85. Sophiaforum.net [Sophia Forum, United Kingdom]
  86. T-Cell Count
  87. Thewellproject.org [The Well Project, United States]
  88. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  89. Unaids.org [UNAIDS]
  90. UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2022
  91. Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
  92. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  93. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
  94. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
  95. WHO Publishes New Guidelines on HIV, Hepatitis and STIs for Key Populations
  96. Webinars: Previous – Menopause and Work
  97. What Are HIV and AIDS? What Is AIDS?
  98. What Are HIV and AIDS? What Is HIV?
  99. Women and Girls, HIV and AIDS
  100. Women and HIV

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: 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/living-hiv Accessed: 19 February 2023
  2. HIV/AIDS: Overview. 09 November 2022. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids Accessed: 19 February 2023
  3. HIV/AIDS: Transmission. 09 November 2022. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids Accessed: 19 February 2023
  4. HIV and AIDS: Overview. Page Last Reviewed: 22 April 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/ Accessed: 19 February 2023
  5. HIV/AIDS: Overview. 09 November 2022. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids Accessed: 19 February 2023
  6. HIV/AIDS: Key Facts. 09 November 2022. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids Accessed: 19 February 2023
  7. Women and Girls, HIV and AIDS. Last Updated: 18 March 2022. Last Full Review: 01 March 2022. Be In the Know https://www.beintheknow.org/understanding-hiv-epidemic/community/hiv-and-women Accessed: 19 February 2023
  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: 19 February 2023
  9. Get Tested for HIV: The Basics: Overview. Content Last Updated: 15 July 2022. MyHealthfinder https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/topics/health-conditions/hiv-and-other-stds/get-tested-hiv Accessed: 19 February 2023
  10. HIV/AIDS & STDs: STDs and HIV – CDC Basic Fact Sheet: Why Does Having An STD Put Me More At Risk for Getting HIV? Page Last Reviewed: 12 April 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/stdfact-std-hiv.htm Accessed: 19 February 2023
  11. Menopause and HIV: Menopause In People Living With HIV. Last Reviewed: January 2021. Aidsmap https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/menopause-and-hiv Accessed: 19 February 2023
  12. HIV and AIDS: Living With HIV – Finding Your HIV Care Team. 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/living-hiv Accessed: 19 February 2023
Topic Last Updated: 31 March 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 19 February 2023

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