Contents:
- Medical Video: 5 Common Signs of HIV
- Most HIV symptoms between men and women are similar
- There are several symptoms of HIV that only appear in women
- 1. Fungal infections in the vagina
- 2. Venereal disease
- 3. Human papilomavirus (HPV) infection
- 4. Pelvic inflammatory disease
- 5. Changes in the menstrual cycle
Medical Video: 5 Common Signs of HIV
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system by destroying white blood cells in the human body. HIV is often transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person.
The female vagina has a higher risk of contracting HIV when having sex than men. However, the symptoms of HIV in men and women vary greatly between each patient, so they cannot be generalized.
Most HIV symptoms between men and women are similar
In general, there are 3 phases of HIV infection. In the first phase after 4 weeks of being infected with HIV, the symptoms that appear usually are frequent flu. Other symptoms that may appear are fever, sore throat, swollen glands, headaches, joint pain, and pain in the muscles.
Furthermore there is phase 2 or asymptomatic (asymptomatic) phase. In this phase, after the initial symptoms disappear, HIV may not cause other symptoms for months or years. During this time, the virus replicates in the body and begins to weaken the immune system. You don't feel sick or look sick, but the virus is still active here.
The third phase is the phase in which the body's immune system has been severely damaged so that more infections and serious diseases attack the body. As the immune system decreases, various complications begin to occur.
There are several symptoms of HIV that only appear in women
1. Fungal infections in the vagina
Vagina healthy ones actually contain bacteria and fungi, but when there is a change in balance between the number of bacteria and fungi, the fungus can multiply more.
Vaginal yeast infections are usually caused by albicans candida fungi. Symptoms that are felt are itching, burning, pain when urinating or having sex. The appearance of fungi in the vagina can be caused by several things, one of which is a decrease in immunity that often occurs in people who are HIV positive.
2. Venereal disease
Venereal disease that occurs in women with HIV can be chlamydia and gonorrhea. In addition, trichomoniasis is also caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. All three can be transmitted through sexual intercourse.
Gonorrhea can actually be experienced by both men and women. There are differences in symptoms of gonorrhea that occur in women and with gonorrhea in men. Gonorrhea in women only looks like mild symptoms, almost similar to bacterial and fungal infections in general. Whereas in men, gonorrhea usually shows typical symptoms, such as gonorrhea.
3. Human papilomavirus (HPV) infection
Human papillomavirus infection can cause warts on the genital skin which causes pain, discomfort, and itching. This growth is very dangerous for women because some types of HPV can cause cancer of the cervix (cervix) and vulva.
Actually genital warts can also occur in men, but the incidence in women is more susceptible to complications of genital warts.
4. Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection that occurs in the pelvic cavity region consisting of the uterus, the fallopian tube, and the ovary. Pelvic inflammatory disease in HIV-positive women is usually difficult to cure. Symptoms can also last longer than usual or come back more often.
5. Changes in the menstrual cycle
HIV positive women can experience changes in the menstrual cycle, can also experience menstruation that is heavier than usual or not menstruating at all. HIV sufferers also have premenstrual symptoms (PMS) that are more severe than usual.
PMS is a condition that affects women before menstruation comes. Usually often experienced are anxiety, depression, zits, fatigue, headaches. Actually PMS is a symptom that is experienced by many women who menstruate, even 85% of women of childbearing age experience PMS before menstruation. However, in people who are HIV positive, these symptoms can occur more severe or severe than before.
