The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a chronic, life-threatening disease. HIV is spread through blood and body fluids, sexual intercourse, intravenous needle sharing and mother-to-child transmission. Once infected, the virus damages your immune system. HIV makes you more susceptible to certain types of cancers and to infections your body would normally resist, such as pneumonia and meningitis, reports the Mayo Clinic. Most symptoms affect both men and women, while some are only experienced in women.
Lack of Energy or Fatigue
Women may experience a lack of energy or fatigue after exposure to HIV. You may seem more tired or sleepy than usual.
Flu-Like Symptoms
According to Mayo Clinic, when first infected with HIV, you can have no signs or symptoms at all. Although, it's more common to develop a brief flu-like illness two to four weeks after becoming infected. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph glands and rash.
Vaginal Infections
Women infected with HIV may experience an increase in vaginal infections. These may include vaginal yeast infections and other vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis, common sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea, Chlamydia and trichomoniasis, human papillomavirus (HPV) infections that cause genital warts and can lead to cervical cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), reports the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Pelvic Infection and Amenorrhea
Women may experience reproductive organ infection, such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and menstrual irregularity. Amenorrhea (lack of monthly periods) may also occur following HIV exposure.
