National HIV Testing Day
June 27th is National HIV Testing Day. The goal of National HIV Testing Day
is to identify HIV-positive people who are unaware they are infected so they
may access treatment and live longer, healthier lives. Getting tested also prevents
new HIV infections by increasing education, awareness, and access to voluntary
counseling and testing. One of the most important challenges is reaching an
estimated 25 percent of HIV-infected persons who don't even know they have it.
Most Americans still tend to think of HIV/AIDS as conditions which predominantly
affect men, but the estimated number of HIV cases among women is on the rise.
Of even greater concern is that women progress more quickly from HIV infection
to AIDS than men. While medical treatments for AIDS are increasingly available,
early detection is the key to raising the effectiveness of treatment regimens.
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report issued
in June 2005, the estimated number of AIDS cases in the US increased 15% among
females and only 1% among males, from 1999 to 2003. Additionally, women
develop AIDS at a lower viral level than men, and consequently, progress more
quickly from HIV to AIDS. The "efficiency" of male-to-female infection of
HIV is more than two times higher than that of female-to-male infection. Early
diagnosis is therefore critical to prolonged survival.
"Studies have shown that a woman's risk of progressing from HIV to AIDS
is almost twice as high as compared to men with the same viral load,"
said Dr. Sherry Marts, Vice President of Scientific Affairs with the Society
for Women's Health Research. "Testing and early diagnosis is crucial
to ensure that women with HIV benefit from the advances in treatment that
have dramatically decreased the numbers of men dying from AIDS in the U.S."
For women, it is fairly common to have a sexually transmitted disease and
not know it, especially in the early stages. This can have serious consequences
that are specific to women including infertility or passing the disease to
the baby during birth or pregnancy.
"If you are sexually active, assume that you are at risk and get tested,"
said Sherry Marts, Vice President of Scientific Affairs at the Society for
Women's Health Research. "AIDS is increasing in the heterosexual population,
especially in women."
For more information on HIV testing, click
For more information on sex differences and HIV, click
Created: 6/27/2005  - Donnica Moore, M.D.