Tragically, many women do not realize they are at risk for HIV and so do not seek testing until symptoms appear. As a consequence, these women do not receive the benefits of drug treatment early in their disease. This often causes them to fall ill earlier in the course of their illness and to die sooner than others who have the benefit of early drug intervention. In addition, social and cultural factors cause women in some settings to feel powerless to insist on the use of a condom.
Heterosexual contact is the greatest risk for women, followed by injection drug use.
Biologically, women are 4 times more vulnerable to HIV and STD infection than men. Women who use non-injection drugs are at great risk of acquiring HIV sexually, especially if they trade sex for money or drugs. Women who have Sex with Women Transmission of HIV from female to female is rare. The majority of HIV-positive women who have had sex only with women also report another risk category, primarily injection drug use. An HIV-positive mother can transmit HIV to her child during pregnancy, labor, birth or breast feeding.