More than 13 percent of all reported cases of AIDS are among women. Most children with AIDS are born to women infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), who either inject drugs themselves or are sexual partners of men who inject drugs.

Women in Greatest Danger are those who:

• Have injected drugs in the past or inject them now.
• Have sex with partners who have injected drugs in the past or inject them now.
• Have sex with men who have or have had sex with other men.
• Have or have had more than one sex partner.
• Have sores caused by STDs, like syphilis or herpes, which make it easier to get HIV.
• Have any STD, because they can put you at greater risk for getting HIV.
• Have HIV already, which can make any other STD harder to treat.

How HIV Affects Women

Many women do not go to the doctor until they experience their second or third infection, which might help to explain why the illness is worse and early death occurs. Women are also more likely to have breathing problems and many gynecological problems which are hard to treat when infected with HIV.

The surest way is not to have sex and not to shoot drugs. If you shoot drugs, get help to stop and never share works.

If you do have sex, having just one partner is safest. Protect yourself and your partner during sex. Always use a male or female latex condom (rubber) for vaginal sex. You should always use a rubber if you have anal or oral sex. Water-based foams, creams and jellies will give you some extra protection if you learn to use them with a rubber. It may look easy, but if you don't do it right, the rubber can break, leak or slip off. Flavored condoms are available for oral sex. Click here for information about female condoms.

Although HIV can transmit orally, oral sex is considered a lower risk behavior than unprotected vaginal or anal sex.
Where can I find free condoms in the Triad?

The following is a list of infections and other illnesses common in women with HIV:

• Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)
• Genital ulcers Candida vaginitis (yeast infection)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Cervical disease
• Ovarian abscesses (sores on the ovaries)
• Dysmenorrhea (painful periods that last longer than normal)
• Amenorrhea (having no period)

If you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, you should seriously consider getting the HIV antibody test.

All sperm should be tested for HIV infection before a woman receives it for artificial insemination.

Women infected with HIV who are already pregnant need special counseling and care during their pregnancy and during birth. An infected woman who is pregnant should talk with her health care provider to discuss all her options.

Because HIV has been found in breast milk, women who are infected with HIV should not breastfeed their babies.

Women who are pregnant and infected with syphilis may go into labor early or have a miscarriage. Your baby may be born dead or with birth defects. To be safe, you should get tested for syphilis early and late in your pregnancy.

Latex condoms should be used to protect against spreading HIV and other STDs even when other birth control methods are used.  Using condoms or lube with nonoxynol-9 may irritate the vaginal region and create another pathway for HIV and other STD's to enter.