Women are generally credited with being more health-aware than their male counterparts, but when it comes to being clued up on HIV and Aids, it seems that men are better informed. This is partly to do with the popular concept of Aids being a men's (and more specifically, a gay men's) disease, but it's a we need to put this complacency behind us because 50% of people with Aids worldwide are now women.Today is World Aids Day, which is a good opportunity for everyone, whether considered to be in an "at risk" category or not, to get up to speed on current thinking about HIV and Aids. Research and treatment of the disease is advancing so rapidly that it's hard for most people to keep up with news on the disease, which has gradually changed from being an immediate death sentence to a long-term illness that can be managed with powerful drugs - but there is still a long way to go.
So what should we as women be doing to educate ourselves and ensure we stay safe? By far the most important point is to practice safe sex, always using a condom unless you are satisfied that your partner is not infected. The only way to be absolutely certain of this is for both partners to take tests. Unsafe sex is the most common method of infection, and it may surprise some to learn that the most common reason for ALL cases of HIV infection in the UK was heterosexual sex. Have a look at the chart below:
Transmission route of HIV diagnoses in UK, 2010:
Chart from Avert UK
A few facts and figures on women and HIV/Aids:
- Almost three quarters of women have never been tested for HIV
- HIV progresses faster in women than it does in men [source]
- 36% of women diagnosed with HIV in the UK are already at an advanced stage
- Women with HIV can have healthy children but pregnancy can be a risk time for both mother and baby and they are advised not to breast-feed. [Source]
- 37% of British women who've had unprotected sex in the past 5 years are not aware if their partner(s) was/were being faithful [source]
- 16% of British women admit that 'nothing would make them get tested for HIV'
Where can I get an HIV test?
If you are unsure if you've put yourself at risk of infection with HIV or just want to have peace of mind, testing in the UK can easily accessed confidential and free of charge. You can have the test done at a local Family Planning Clinic, you can have it done privately in person or by post for a fee of around £90-130. You can also ask your GP for a test if you are not concerned about having it appear on your permanent medical file.
