HIV and People Assigned Female At Birth: Common Symptoms
Lymph nodes are located throughout the body, including the:
HIV Symptoms in Women
The symptoms of HIV are mostly the same for men and women. But there can be some differences between the genders.
Women’s HIV Symptoms
There are a few signs that happen only in women, often in the later stages of infection:
Changes in your period. You may have lighter or heavier bleeding, skip periods, or have severe PMS. Stress or other STDs, which are common with HIV, can cause these issues. But they may also happen because of the virus’s effects on your immune system, which may change your hormones.
Lower belly pain. This is one of the signs of an infection of your uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can also cause:
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Fever
- Irregular periods
- Pain during sex
- Pain in your upper belly
Vaginal yeast infections. Many women with HIV get these often, sometimes several times a year. When you get a yeast infection, you can have:
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- Thick white discharge from your vagina
- Pain during sex
- Pain when you pee
- Vaginal burning or soreness
Cernical Cancer. While not a symptom of HIV, cervical cancer can be an AIDS-defining condition. Women with HIV should be screened for cervical cancer annually and treated as needed.
Early HIV Symptoms
For both men and women, about 2 to 4 weeks after you’re infected, you may feel like you have the flu. It’s a sign that your body is responding to the virus. This may last a few weeks.
Symptoms of a new HIV infection include:
Men and women with HIV can get a yeast infection of the mouth, called thrush or oral candidiasis. It causes swelling and a thick white coating over your mouth, tongue, and throat.
Some people have no symptoms of early HIV infection. But you should get tested if you think you might have been exposed to HIV.
See your doctor or go to the emergency room right away if you think you could have been exposed to the virus in the past couple of days. Medications called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can keep you from getting HIV. But they work only if you take them within 72 hours of getting the virus. Your doctor can give you a prescription for PEP, and you’ll take them once or twice a day for 28 days.
Later HIV Stages
After flu-like symptoms in the first few weeks, you’ll go into what doctors call the clinical latency stage, also called asymptomatic HIV infection or chronic HIV infection. You’ll start to feel better while the virus makes copies of itself in your body. Most people don’t have any symptoms during this stage.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) medicines will keep you healthy and keep you from spreading HIV to others. If you take the drugs as prescribed, you can stay in the latency stage for decades and even have a regular life span.
Be up-front about your condition with potential sex partners. They should get tested for HIV. Use a condom correctly every time you have sex to protect against HIV as well as other sexually transmitted diseases.
Show Sources
CDC: “About HIV/AIDS;” “Diseases Characterized by Genital, Anal, or Perianal Ulcers;” and “HIV Basics: Prevention.”
Office of Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: “Genital Ulcers;” “Menstrual Problems;” “Pelvic Inflammatory Disease;” and “Vaginal Yeast Infections.”
Aids.gov: “How Can I Tell If I Have HIV?” and “When One Partner is HIV+.”
National Institutes of Health: “HIV and Women.”
HIV and People Assigned Female At Birth: Common Symptoms
Early symptoms of HIV may be mild and easily dismissed. But even without noticeable symptoms, an HIV-positive person can still pass the virus on to others.
That’s one of the many reasons why it’s important for people to know their HIV status.
But not all HIV symptoms are the same for everyone. So how do symptoms differ for people assigned female at birth (AFAB)?
Here are the common symptoms that can affect people who have a vulva and vagina.
Stage 1: Acute infection
This early stage is usually seen after 2 to 4 weeks of contracting HIV and is the point when a person is most contagious.
The body responds to the virus, typically resulting in flu-like symptoms.
In some cases, symptoms are so mild that you may not even notice them. But others may need to be seen by a doctor or other healthcare professional.
Here are some of the symptoms that can be common during the acute stage.
Swollen glands
Swollen lymph nodes, or glands, are often one of the first signs of HIV and can last for several months.
Lymph nodes are located throughout the body, including the:
- neck
- back of the head
- armpits
- groin
Forming part of the immune system, they fend off infections by storing immune cells and filtering pathogens.
As HIV begins to spread in the body, the immune system kicks into gear. The result is enlarged lymph nodes.
Sore throat
A sore throat is quite a common symptom during the earliest stage of a HIV infection.
It may last a few days, weeks, or even months in rarer cases.
Mouth ulcers
Mouth sores can also occur during the initial stage and may even be the first sign of an infection. But it’s also possible for them to occur when HIV has progressed to a later stage.
They may appear as cream-colored plaques on the tongue, palate, or lips that often wipe away to leave a red surface underneath.
Other people may develop red ulcers inside the cheeks and lips that can be painful.
Skin rashes
Rash is a common symptom and many different types can show up on the skin. They may be a symptom of HIV itself or the result of a concurrent infection or condition.
Night sweats
Some people may experience night sweats within the first month of contracting HIV. They occur when the body attempts to fight the infection during sleep.
It’s common for other symptoms, like fever, to accompany night sweats. Though, fever may also present on its own. FYI, a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) is considered a fever.
Muscle ache
One of the most troublesome symptoms for many with HIV, muscles can begin to ache within the first few weeks of an infection. This is often the result of a flu-like episode. (More on this below.)
Other flu-like symptoms
Some people may have other symptoms that resemble the flu, including:
These often go away within a few weeks.
Stage 2: Chronic infection
Also known as the asymptomatic stage, chronic HIV infection is the point where the virus remains at low levels inside the body.
Some people have no symptoms at all during this period — despite the virus still replicating — and this can last for several years.
Others may have more severe symptoms than they experienced during the acute stage. These can range from coughing and fatigue to weight loss and diarrhea. A high fever is also possible.
Stage 3: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
This is the most severe HIV stage, where the body’s immune system has been severely weakened.
It becomes more difficult to ward off certain infections, known as opportunistic infections, or diseases.
Infections and diseases
HIV makes it easier for opportunistic infections to take hold.
Some of these include:
- pneumonia
- tuberculosis
- oral or vaginal candidiasis
Yeast infections (a type of candidiasis) and bacterial infections may be more common in AFAB folks, and they may be harder to treat.
In general, people with uncontrolled HIV are also more prone to infections of the following areas:
If HIV is uncontrolled, the risk of certain cancers increases, too, including:
- Kaposi sarcoma
- non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- cervical cancer
Menstrual changes
People with HIV may eventually experience changes to their menstrual cycle. Their periods may be lighter or heavier than usual, or they may not have a period at all.
More severe premenstrual symptoms have also been noted.
Increased outbreaks of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
For people who already have another STI, HIV can lead to worsening symptoms.
Human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause genital warts, is more active in those with HIV.
The infection can also cause more frequent and intense outbreaks of genital herpes that can be more difficult to treat.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
PID is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries that can lead to:
- pain during penetrative sex and when urinating
- irregular bleeding
- increased vaginal discharge
In HIV-positive people, it can be harder to treat. Symptoms may also last longer than usual or return more often.
Other symptoms
If HIV progresses to AIDS, other symptoms include:
- diarrhea
- nausea and vomiting
- weight loss
- severe headache
- joint pain
- muscle aches
- shortness of breath
- chronic cough
- trouble swallowing
- severe night sweats and chills
In the later stages, people may experience:
- short-term memory loss
- mental confusion
- coma
The human immunodeficiency virus causes HIV infections, attacking the immune system and weakening the body’s defense against infections and diseases.
It originated from chimpanzees in Central Africa and is thought to have spread to humans who hunted them and came into contact with their infected blood.
As it’s transmitted via contact with bodily fluids, most people are infected through unprotected vaginal or anal sex with someone who’s HIV-positive. (The risk of contracting HIV through oral sex tends to be much lower.)
But coming into contact with infected blood — such as by sharing needles — can also transmit HIV from one person to another.
It’s possible for a birthing parent to transmit HIV to their baby, too. This can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or nursing.
Key ways to reduce the risk of HIV include the following:
- not sharing needles when using injected drugs
- using a condom properly when having sex alongside water- or silicone-based lubricant to help prevent it slipping or breaking
- taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if you’re at a higher risk of contracting HIV
- not douching — it can alter the natural balance of bacteria and yeast in the vagina, make an existing infection worse, or increase the risk of contracting HIV and other STIs
- getting tested and treated for HIV and other STIs — having an STI can mean a greater risk of contracting HIV
AFAB people without HIV who have HIV-positive partners aren’t at risk of contracting the virus if their partner uses HIV medications daily and achieves viral suppression. However, ongoing use of barrier methods, like condoms, is recommended.
If the above symptoms are present, and there’s concern about the possibility of HIV, a good first step is to get tested.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested at least once for HIV, regardless of their risk. If you have known risk factors, it’s a good idea to be tested annually.
Testing can be performed confidentially in a medical professional’s office or anonymously at home or at a testing site.
Local public health departments, as well as resources like HIV.gov, offer information on finding testing sites.
If HIV test results are negative but symptoms are still present, consider following up with a healthcare professional. The likes of a rash may be a sign of a serious medical condition, even in people without HIV.
If the HIV test comes back positive, a healthcare professional can assist in creating a treatment plan.
With treatment via antiretroviral medications, the condition can be managed. Recent advancements have significantly improved the life expectancy of people with HIV.
Lauren Sharkey is a U.K.-based journalist and author specializing in women’s issues. When she isn’t trying to discover a way to banish migraines, she can be found uncovering the answers to your lurking health questions. She has also written a book profiling young female activists across the globe and is currently building a community of such resisters. Catch her on Twitter.
Last medically reviewed on January 28, 2022
