Signs of HIV in Women

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a serious sexually transmitted disease that does not have a cure. While men are diagnosed with HIV more often, women, especially women in their 30s, are still at a high risk of contracting HIV, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Unprotected sex and sharing needles are the leading causes of HIV contraction in women. While the signs of HIV in women are similar to those in men, some women may also experience gender-specific signs, such as vaginal yeast infections.

Acute HIV Signs

After exposure to virus, many women will not display symptoms, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Other women may have flu-like symptoms 1 to 2 months after infection. These flu-like symptoms include fever, headache, enlarged lymph nodes and fatigue. However, these symptoms can be mistaken for another illness and do not last more than a few weeks. The acute phase of HIV can last for 10 years or longer. During the asymptomatic stage, the virus is still active and can be passed on to other sexual partners.

Common Signs

A woman can be infected for many years with HIV without knowing it. The first tell-tale sign, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, is lymph nodes that have been enlarged for more than 3 years. The common signs of HIV in women start to appear as the immune system weakens. Physically, the woman may have skin rashes or flaky skin that does not heal with treatment or yeast infections in her mouth. She may also experience unexplained weight loss, lack of energy, constant fatigue, night sweats and low-grade fevers. In addition, short-term memory loss can occur.

Additional Signs

Certain signs of HIV are unique to women. Vaginal yeast infections, infections of the woman's reproductive organs and bacterial vaginosis are additional signs of HIV, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. A woman's menstrual cycle can also be affected, such as a lack of a monthly period. Women with HIV are also at an increased risk of developing other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, human papillomavirus and pelvic inflammatory disease.