How Does HIV Affect Women Differently?

HIV may cause some health problems that are unique to women, such as:

• Gynecological health issues
• Increased risk of cervical cancer
• Increased risk of heart disease
• HIV medicine side effects and drug interactions
• Aging-related issues

Pregnancy and birth control also require careful management with a health care provider.

The good news is that women who take HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) daily as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load can stay healthy and have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex.