Tag Archives: AIDS

World AIDS Day 2013

Today is World AIDS Day.

What can you do to make a difference?

AIDS affects millions of children, teens, women and men world wide. Chances are it affects someone you know.

In 2011, women and adolescent girls (aged 13 and older) accounted for 21% of the estimated 49,273 new diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States. Black, Hispanic/Latino, and white women represented 97% (9,901) of estimated new diagnoses of HIV infection among all women in 2011. Among a total of 10,270 new HIV diagnoses among women and adolescent girls, 86% of HIV infections were attributed to heterosexual contact and 14% to injection drug use. Overall, CDC estimates that 279,100 women and adolescent girls were living with HIV at the end of 2009 and that 15% of those did not know that they were infected. This means they are not getting life-saving treatment or taking steps to protect their partners. (Read more.)

Four risk factors put ALL women (all includes you and your daughter) at risk for HIV:

  • sex (yes, that includes oral)
  • having EVER had unprotected sex (vaginal/anal/oral) with a male partner who has had sex (oral/anal) with another male
  • drug use (which can lead to risky behaviors, like having sex or sharing needles, etc)
  • sexual abuse

Menstrual problems are common for women with HIV: lighter or heavier bleeding, missed periods, more severe PMS, early menopause.

And, there are menstrual concerns when we consider HIV/AIDS – just like there are when there is potential for contact with ANY bodily fluid from ANYONE.

 HIV/AIDS among girls and women is a real concern. What are you doing to raise awareness?