Common Symptoms of HIV in Women

HIV can attack anyone indiscriminately, even the accompanying symptoms can be experienced by men and women who are indeed at risk of getting HIV or AIDS. HIV infection if not treated can spread to the fetus in the womb. Find out the symptoms of HIV in women that are common here. In Indonesia, it is estimated that around 250,000 women of childbearing age suffer from HIV infection. Symptoms of HIV in women are generally not much different from men, but there are also some HIV symptoms that are especially found in female sufferers. In addition, there are also people who do not show symptoms of HIV but suffer from this disease. Although it is considered mild and easy to treat, the symptoms of HIV in the first two to four weeks since you are infected are symptoms that must be watched and anticipated. At this time, you are in a window period. The period also known as the "window period" is when you do not have a positive HIV test result, but already have this virus in your body and can begin to transmit the disease to others. Some common symptoms of HIV in women include: Fungal infections in the vaginal area. These symptoms can be experienced as many as four times or even more in a year. Sometimes, this condition becomes the first symptom experienced by women infected with the HIV virus. Symptoms of vaginal yeast infection that you need to check include a thick white vaginal discharge, burning sensation or pain in the vaginal area, pain when urinating, and pain during sex. Frequent recurrence of fungal infections or other infections in women is a sign that the immune system is starting to weaken. Pain in the lower abdomen. This is a symptom of infection in the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvic inflammation. Other symptoms that need attention are leucorrhoea that you don't normally experience, fever, pain during sex, and pain in the right upper abdomen. Changes in menstruation. Starting from the cycle, the amount of bleeding, and symptoms of pre-menstruation that are worse than before can be a sign of changes that occur. This change may occur due to the effect of the HIV virus on your immune system and hormones. Recurrent infections. Infections that often recur in the near future with a history of previous illness are one of the symptoms of HIV infection. Common symptoms of infection are fever, weakness, shortness of breath, cough that is difficult to heal or often recur, sore throat, muscle aches, recurrent mouth ulcers or vaginal mucosa, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss and a rash on the body. Infection can also attack the brain, kidneys, or liver. Symptoms of brain infection are decreased consciousness, fever, convulsions, and weakness of limbs until paralysis. Given that HIV virus infection attacks the immune system, opportunistic infections are very likely to occur. Severe infections that attack HIV sufferers are serious conditions that need to be treated immediately. Some of the symptoms of HIV in women are still relatively common and can be similar to the symptoms of the common cold, therefore, carrying out tests and related examinations are highly recommended for those of you who are at risk of contracting HIV. High risk of HIV infection, namely in users of injection needles, high-risk sexual behavior such as having anal or vaginal sex by changing partners without using a condom, and having had a blood transfusion. The HIV virus does not spread through shaking hands or using a toilet together with HIV sufferers. This virus is spread through open wounds that come into contact with the blood of people with HIV. Symptoms that can arise if HIV infection has led to AIDS are weight loss dramatically, frequent fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin folds, recurring canker sores, diarrhea for more than 1 month, reddish lesions appear , purple, or brownish, on the skin or mucosa of the mouth, nose or eyes, severe pneumonia, to neuropsychological symptoms such as depression, forgetfulness and seizures. TB infection is also often found in people with HIV infection. VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) is a special program consisting of a team of doctors, counselors, and other medical experts who will help you to get comprehensive information and treatment about HIV. Confidentiality in HIV counseling and treatment is one of the main objectives of the VCT program. You don't need to be afraid or embarrassed to consult a doctor if you feel you are at risk or have been infected with HIV. The HIV virus requires an incubation period or a long time to develop into AIDS, but if it continues until the condition occurs, the death rate and complications due to infection or various other diseases will be higher. Therefore, early examination and treatment is very important to prevent the occurrence of these continuing complications. Women have a higher risk of getting HIV through vaginal sex than men and women can transmit it to the fetus they are carrying. Women can also transmit HIV to infants through breast milk. HIV symptoms in women are important for you to recognize and study, because these conditions become more difficult to treat in patients who actually have HIV. Be wise in making decisions related to the health of your reproductive organs and body. Contact your doctor if you feel that you have the symptoms above or want to get information or checks about your HIV status.