Menstruation

As well as affecting your immune system, HIV can sometimes affect your hormonal system. This may be the case if you have a low CD4 cell count and/or a high viral load, and also if you use (or have used) recreational drugs.

Some of the changes to the menstrual cycle (periods) some women experience include:

long intervals between periods
missed periods without pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you notice any changes to your periods. It could mean that you need to consider starting to take antiretroviral therapy. Changes in your menstrual cycle can also be a symptom of other health problems. But remember that a missed period might also mean that you are pregnant, or that you are starting to go through the menopause.

Abnormal bleeding (for example, after sex) or very heavy periods should also be reported to your doctor. Heavy periods can be caused by several factors, including fibroids (growths that develop from the smooth muscle layer of the uterus). If left untreated, the blood loss from heavy periods could lead to anaemia (a lack of red blood cells).

The risk of you passing on HIV can vary depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. The levels of HIV in vaginal fluid vary. They are likely to be highest around the time of your period, when cells containing HIV are most likely to be found in vaginal fluid, along with blood. Someone giving you oral sex will be at higher risk of HIV infection around the time of your period, if they have bleeding gums, sores or wounds, or a sore throat, inflammation or untreated infection in the mouth.

You can reduce the risk by using a dental dam (a sheet of latex), or using a piece of latex cut from a condom, as protection.

Treatment can also lower the risk of you passing on HIV.

Rate:

(No votes cast) Please log in or register to vote. What's this?

Save:

Please log in or register to add this article to My favourites. What's this? Adding an article to My favourites will allow you to easily come back to it later or print it.