Although getting HIV infected at an older age leads to more rapid progression of HIV disease in men and women, it is not clear if the going through menopause affects the HIV-related health of women infected earlier. It is important that women after menopause continue to have regular PAP smears as cervical cancer increases with older age. In addition, regular exams for breast cancer and other health issues related to women after menopause whether or not they have HIV is important. HIV Medications and Women Little is known about the different effects of HIV medications between men and women possibly because the number of women in early HIV drug trials has been rather low. Recent studies suggest that HIV medications may be as effective in women but with different side effects.
Men tend to have more diarrhea.
Interestingly, one study reported that nelfinavir may cause a somewhat larger increase in CD4 count among women compared to men. Protease inhibitors, a type of HIV medication that includes nelfinavir and ritonavir, have recently been found to cause abnormal fatty collections and high cholesterol levels in some patients. Men may be more likely to have high cholesterol, thinning of the arms and legs, loss of fat in the buttocks, and increased fat on the back of the neck. Yeast infection of the throat may also be more common in women. Otherwise, the possible signs of HIV infection in women are similar to that in men.