The number of new HIV infections has dropped dramatically over the last decade. The number of women diagnosed with HIV is comparatively small with most new cases occurring in the male homosexual or bisexual population. The vast majority of women contract the virus through heterosexual contact. HIV is spread when the blood, semen or vaginal fluid of an infected person gets into the bloodstream of an uninfected person. Men and women infected with HIV suffer from similar HIV-related illnesses including chronic diarrhoea, bacterial infections, tuberculosis, pneumonia and cancer of the lymph nodes.
Women are, however, also affected by a range of conditions specific to their gender.
These illnesses are primarily reproductive tract infections, in particular, recurrent thrush infections. The only way of knowing if someone is HIV positive is by having a blood test. It can take up to three months for the antibodies to develop once HIV has entered the bloodstream. Genital herpes Genital herpes is a common STI caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two types of herpes simplex virus.