Early Signs of HIV in Women — Living With HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, attacks the infected body’s -fighting immune system. Without treatment, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). At the start of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, people infected with HIV quickly progressed to severe diseases and died. Still, today’s treatments help lower the amount of infection in the blood, so People Living with HIV can live healthier, longer lives and not necessarily progress to AIDS. More than one million people in the US live with HIV, and scarily, one in seven don’t know they have the virus. HIV symptoms can be tough to detect, and Within a month or two of HIV infection entering the body, 40% to 90% of people experience flu-like symptoms. Still, sometimes HIV symptoms don’t appear for many years — or even a decade — after infection.

HIV symptoms in women Within a few weeks of contracting HIV, the body goes through seroconversion, a period in which the virus rapidly multiplies. HIV can cause a flu-like illness during seroconversion called an acute HIV infection. Further symptoms can develop after this initial period, especially if a person does not correctly receive HIV treatment. Symptoms of HIV in women can include:

1. Flu-like symptoms: After contracting HIV, the immune system mounts a response to the HIV. Symptoms may include: • fatigue • headaches • a low-grade fever • coughing • sneezing • a runny nose, or congestion. The symptoms above usually appear 2–6 weeks after contracting HIV, and they can last from a week to a month.

These symptoms can resemble a cold or flu, so an HIV person may not initially associate them with HIV. Many symptoms of an acute HIV infection are common in both males and females. However, some women may experience other symptoms are:

2. Swollen lymph nodes: Swollen lymph nodes can be one of the earliest symptoms of HIV after those of an acute infection. Following an acute HIV that continues to multiply, but at a slower rate. A person may or may not have symptoms, and treatment can slow or stop the virus’ progression. Even without HIV Treatment, some people experience no additional symptoms for up to a decade after the initial virus. The neck may feel swollen just under the jaw and behind the ears of a hiv person, and the swelling can cause trouble swallowing, and it may last anywhere from a few days to months.

3. Vaginal yeast infections: HIV can increase the risk of developing vaginal yeast infections, and the symptoms of these infections include: • burning in and around the vagina and vulva • pain during sex • painful urination • thick, white vaginal discharge While almost all women have yeast infections from time to time, HIV can cause these infections to occur more frequently. When a person has HIV, their immune system devotes energy to fighting the infection, and as a result, their body is not as equipped to combat other viruses.

4. Rapid weight loss: If a person is not receiving HIV treatment, the virus can cause nausea, diarrhoea, poor food absorption, and appetite loss. Each of these issues can cause a person to lose weight very quickly.

5. Changes in mood Sometimes: HIV progression can cause mood changes in neurological disorders in women. This may involve depression, stress which can cause feelings of hopelessness and sadness. These hiv people may also experience stress and memory loss.

6. Skin changes: HIV can cause unusual spots to form on the skin, and They may be red, pink, brown, or purple. These spots may appear inside the mouth, eyelids, or nose, and Sores can also develop on the mouth, genitals, or anus. 7. Menstrual changes: Some women with HIV notice lighter or heavier periods. Also, if a person is experiencing rapid weight loss, they may begin to miss periods. In addition, hormonal fluctuations can cause menstrual symptoms, such as cramps, breast tenderness, and fatigue, to change or get worse. The importance of getting tested If you think that you are exhibiting any of These seven early symptoms of HIV infection. A good first step is to get tested. It’s the only way for a person to know if they have HIV. The CDCTrusted SourceTrusted Source recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 gets tested at least once for HIV, regardless of their risk. If a person has known risk factors, it’s a good idea for them to be tested annually. Testing is easy and can be performed confidentially in a medical provider’s office or anonymously at home or a testing site.