Increased awareness and use of prevention measures are key to reducing the incidence of HIV among all Americans. In March, however, focus is placed on HIV awareness for women and girls, who face unique challenges in preventing and treating this disease.
Each year, nearly 20% of the new HIV infections identified in the US are among women, with most being women 25 to 34 years old. While statistics show that a majority of these women know they have HIV, only a little more than half are getting the regular treatment needed to suppress their viral load and maintain their health.
The Centers for Disease Control is working to improve these numbers by increasing awareness of treatment and prevention options and ensuring women have the access and support to maintain these treatments.
Why women are more at risk
- Genetic makeup: Among the most common ways to spread HIV is through anal or vaginal sex (sharing needles and drug injection equipment is also at the top of the list). Since receptive sex is more risky than insertive sex, women are genetically more likely to be infected with HIV or other STDs. Moreover, a gonorrhea or syphilis infection also increases a woman’s risk of HIV infection.
- Lack of knowledge about sex partner: Women are less likely to ask a partner about HIV status or habits that increase risk of infection, such as same-sex partners or drug use. Ultimately, this leads to a failure to take precautions.
- Likelihood of being a victim: Women are more likely to be victims of intimate partner violence, which can range from lack of support for using a condom to rape. Women who are domestic violence victims also are more likely to engage in risky behavior.
- Depression and anxiety: Women faced with the possibility of HIV infection or who have been diagnosed are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, which often leads to a failure to seek the help and treatment they need.
What women can do to treat, prevent HIV
One of the biggest barriers women face in treating HIV is health care – both seeking it out and maintaining it. Doctors and health organizations today are working to eliminate the stigma associated with an HIV diagnosis and to increase access to effective treatments for all women. Women with access to safe and supportive treatment centers are more likely to take medication and maintain regular appointments.
Key among treatment efforts today is medication that suppresses the viral load in those who are HIV positive. When the viral load is undetectable, the virus cannot be spread to an uninfected partner. However, to stay undetectable, regular health care appointments and medication are critical, pointing again to the need to increase access and support for women.
Prevention remains a key goal, with health care providers now able to offer PrEP treatment (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for their patients who have not been diagnosed with HIV but are at greater risk of being exposed to the virus. PrEP meds have been shown to be highly effective when taken as prescribed, reducing the risk of getting HIV through sex by 99% and through shared needles by more than 70%. Unfortunately, only about 10% of women who could benefit from this treatment are getting it.
Taking control
Women can take control of their health and prevent HIV infection by doing the following:
- Limit your sexual partners and insist on a condom (male or female) before engaging in sexual activity.
- Talk to your partner about HIV status and get tested.
- Avoid drug use and risky behaviors associated with drug or alcohol abuse.
- Avoid douching, as it can reduce the presence of regular vaginal bacteria that protect you from infection.
If you have questions about HIV or AIDS, your risk factors, or what treatments are available to you to treat and prevent HIV, contact Stark Women’s Center to schedule a consultation with one of our professionals.