Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Overview

HIV is a retrovirus that damages the immune system by attacking CD4 T lymphocytes. HIV is transmitted through certain bodily fluids, including blood, semen, and breastmilk. If left untreated, HIV infection can advance to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).¹ People with AIDS are vulnerable to opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis and candidiasis.²

Certain factors increase the risk of HIV acquisition in women. In general, receptive sex carries a higher risk of transmission than insertive sex, and women are most likely to acquire HIV during vaginal or anal sex with a man who has HIV and who is not wearing a condom. In addition, age-related thinning and dryness of the vagina can lead to tears in the vagina during sex, putting older women at higher risk for HIV transmission.³

While there is currently no cure for HIV, it can be managed by adhering to an effective HIV treatment regimen.⁴ However, there are some special considerations for treating women with HIV. Some antiretroviral drugs have significant interactions with hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, and pregnant women need to take antiretroviral therapy throughout their pregnancy to reduce the risk of perinatal transmission to the infant.⁵

The Office of AIDS Research (OAR) and Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) are collaborating on the HIV and Women Signature Program. This program, which launched in February 2023, takes an intersectional and data-driven approach to researching HIV and women’s health.