HIV in women: what you should know

How common is HIV in women?

Out of the 39 million people living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) worldwide in 2022, 53% were women and girls¹. Yet, the HIV epidemic among women is often overlooked - the focus tending to fix on these high-risk groups:

• Men who have sex with men.

• Sex workers and their clients.

• People who inject drugs.

• Transgender people and their sexual partners.

These groups have a significantly higher chance of catching HIV because of the sexual activities they engage in. The risk of HIV in women cannot be defined by a particular high-risk activity, but there are certain risk factors that make many girls and women around the world more vulnerable to this sexually transmitted infection (STI).

How does location affect HIV in women?

The majority of people living with HIV are in low-to-middle income countries. This is true for both men and women, but for women, living in these regions is associated with a much higher risk of HIV compared to men.

In high income countries such as the UK and USA, women appear to have a lower risk than men.

For example:

• In the UK, women make up around 30% of people living with HIV³.

• In the USA, women make up around 25% of people living with HIV⁴.

However, in the UK the decline in new HIV infections in women hasn't been as steep as that in bisexual and gay men. Some experts attribute this to women being less likely to take an HIV test and more likely to receive a late diagnosis - a trend observed across Europe⁵.

What are the risk factors for HIV in women?

Vaginal sex

Women who have vaginal sex with men are more vulnerable to STIs. This is because the vagina has a larger surface area - compared with the penis - that can be exposed to HIV-infected semen. What's more, semen can stay in the vagina for several days, meaning a longer period of exposure to the virus. Vaginal yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis can also leave women more vulnerable to HIV transmission.

The risk is even higher in older women who experience vaginal dryness or thinning, as this increases the risk of small cuts during sex, through which the HIV virus can spread into the body.

Gender inequality and abuse

In many countries, sociocultural factors impede women from being able to protect themselves from HIV. This gender inequality is most apparent in low-income, HIV high-risk parts of the world.

For example, according to a UNAIDS report⁶:

• Women who experience violence are 50% more likely to catch HIV.

• Adolescent girls are key victims of gender-based violence - including sexual abuse, early and forced marriage, marital rape, sexual exploitation and trafficking.

• Marriages between girls and older men further contribute to the spread of HIV in women as older partners have a greater risk of being HIV-positive.

Financial inequality

In low-income regions, many girls and women are financially dependent on men. This is often a barrier to negotiating condom use, buying HIV prevention methods, accessing health care, or being able to refuse sex if they suspect their partner has HIV.

While many more women enjoy financial independence in high-income regions, women experiencing poverty remain vulnerable to HIV transmission.

For example:

• In the UK, 45% of women living with HIV live below the poverty line³.

• In the USA, African-American women make up around 60% of new HIV infections yet are only 14% of the national female population⁴. This higher risk is linked to racial disparities that include higher rates of poverty, among other factors such as lack of health care access and stigma.

According to experts, poverty increases the risk of HIV in women because people in poverty tend to have limited access to health services and education, and experience more gender-based violence. In turn, this also leads to more participation in HIV high-risk behaviours - including starting to have sex younger, not using condoms, and sex work.

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HIV complications in women

Women and men experience the same standard HIV symptoms, which includes flu-like symptoms such as feeling sick and night sweats, and swollen lymph nodes or skin rashes.

However, there are some additional complications of HIV for women to look out for:

• Recurring vaginal yeast infections.

• Menstrual cycle problems.

• Entering menopause younger.

• Severe pelvic inflammatory disease.

• Osteoporosis.

• Cervical cancer.

• Severe adverse reactions to antiretroviral therapy - HIV/AIDS medicines.

• The risk of passing on HIV to their baby during pregnancy or childbirth.

What can be done to prevent the spread of HIV in women?

In the UK, sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust believe that helping women to become less invisible in HIV prevention and care will help reduce the rates of HIV in women. They identify five areas of focus³:

1. Equal investment and priority to be given to all genders in HIV prevention, research, data and services.

2. HIV research to address specific knowledge gaps around HIV in women with participation and involvement of women.

3. Reduction in late diagnoses of HIV in women through improved HIV testing approaches and uptake in different settings.

4. Better data collection on HIV in women.

5. Investment in HIV support services that meet women's needs, including peer support, mental health support, and gender-based violence services.

HIV testing in the UK is much easier, more convenient, and discreet than it used to be. Awareness of these HIV testing options is important in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

In high-risk regions like sub-Saharan Africa, new long-acting HIV prevention methods such as the Dapivirine vaginal ring can help give women more control over their sexual health, especially those unable to take a daily tablet.

Further reading

1. UNAIDS: Global HIV & AIDS statistics - fact sheet.

2. HIV.gov: Global statistics.

3. Terrence Higgins Trust: Women and HIV: invisible no longer.

4. US Office on Women’s Health: Women and HIV.

5. Tariq and Kasadha: HIV and women's health: where are we now?

6. UNAIDS report: Women and HIV - a spotlight on adolescent girls and young women.