Project Inform - September, 1998

Together, these served as a clear reminder of the social, psychological and biological needs that women face in this epidemic. In addition, meetings were called by the International Community of Women living with HIV/AIDS and the International AIDS Society Women's Caucus to discuss the global needs of women in the epidemic. While there is still much work to be done, it was encouraging to see women's treatment activism beginning to flourish around the world.

Researchers have begun to look specifically at the use and effectiveness of anti-HIV therapies and therapies for gynecological conditions in women (see Treatment of Gynecological Conditions in Women). But we still need to learn more about the interaction between HIV and the menstrual cycle, hormone replacement therapy, birth control, pregnancy and other issues specific to women. While some research is already underway to shed light on these issues, some areas, particularly the role of hormone replacement therapy, remain inadequately addressed by current research efforts.

Although we are seeing some slight differences in side effects and drug levels in women, more significant differences may lie in other non-biological areas, such as access to treatment and access to physicians experienced in treating people with HIV. Recent data from the National HIV/AIDS Treatment Survey indicate that women are less likely than men to receive care from physicians experienced in treating people with HIV and that women tend to be at more advanced stages of HIV disease when they first see a doctor. The result is that many women receive substandard care and therefore tend to experience disease progression sooner after an HIV diagnosis. This is certainly not true for all women, but it is especially common for women who are seeing less experienced physicians or who are more advanced in their HIV disease when they are diagnosed.

AIDS research must continue to address the concerns of women with HIV from a broader perspective, examining the women-specific treatment concerns but also the needs of women in our changing health care system. The Geneva conference's focus on women and children was encouraging and credit should be given to all the women living with HIV/AIDS, their advocates, caregivers and the researchers who continue to contribute to meaningful advances in information specific to women.

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The original of this article can be found at http://www.projinf.org/pub/25/women.html