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Main Forums => Positive Women => Topic started by: Ann on April 05, 2010, 10:30:27 am

Title: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: Ann on April 05, 2010, 10:30:27 am
AIDSmeds.com recently reported on the results of a study of women with hiv. It's interesting reading.

Women living with HIV are significantly more likely to experience sexual problems compared with those not living with the virus, according to new results from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) published online ahead of print by the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS).

Research on the topic of women's sexual behavior, as it relates to HIV infection, has primarily focused on the biological and behavioral factors connected with transmission of the virus. While there's no doubting the importance of research analyzing HIV transmission dynamics among women, notably condom use and determinants of sexual risk behavior, other aspects of sexual health, including satisfaction with sexual relationships, have largely been ignored. 

Sexual function problems are common among women and include pain and difficulties or limitations in sexual interest, desire, arousal and orgasm during sexual activity. Data from the 1992 National Health and Social Life Survey, the most recent nationally representative study on sexuality among younger adults in the United States, suggest that 40 percent of sexually active women ages 18 to 59 report symptoms indicative of sexual problems over a 12-month period.  

Click here (http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_women_sexual_1667_18153.shtml) to read the whole article. I'd also recommend clicking on the link in the article and reading the actual questionnaire they used as well as the report itself.



For myself, hiv does not currently affect my sex life adversely. I'm with a poz partner and that probably helps. We both have high sex-drives and while we might not have sex every night, on the nights we do it's usually three or four times.  :o  :)

Back when I was with a negative partner, having to use condoms put me off a bit as they tend to irritate me. It certainly meant that we had sex less frequently than we did before I was diagnosed. It also put me off the way he used to always jump up right after and go have a wash in the bathroom. He never did that when we weren't using condoms before diagnosis. I never said anything to him about it - probably should have.  >:( I've been with a couple other negative men since my diagnosis and none of them ever did that. One even wanted to go without a condom even though he knew I'm poz - silly man. Of course I said put it on or it's a no-go. He put it on. :)

Ann
Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: emeraldize on April 05, 2010, 11:14:35 am
 on the nights we do it's usually three or four times.    

Ann, Ann, Ann

or should that be Ann, Ann, Ann, Ann!

You lucky, lucky woman. 

Now, I will go read the article.

Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: Ann on April 05, 2010, 12:08:08 pm


You lucky, lucky woman. 


I know I'm lucky. Very, very lucky and very much in love - he is too. :) It's a shame we wasted so many years apart. (were first together '93-'97 and late '07-now) We both grew up an awful lot during those ten years apart though, and we might not have if we'd stayed together.
Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: TabooPrincess on April 05, 2010, 01:29:36 pm
I find condoms annoying and they do irritate somewhat - my bf also struggles to cum with condoms on (tho personally I always thought this was an excuse men came up with!!!!)  He's on meds at the moment and undetectable but I'm not on meds.  WIll probably venture down the unprotected route when we're both on meds and undetectable, just to be on the safe side with resistance (he's not that great at taking his meds so I worry they may stop working properly)
Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: netta on April 05, 2010, 01:35:57 pm
You go  Ann!
Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: Queen Tokelove on April 05, 2010, 01:51:23 pm
Well, I always knew Ann was a nympho...Why you thinks she knows so much about condoms, hmmm? Just kidding...I never had a problem with using condoms though I don't like them much. When I was with my ex since he is poz, I didn't find the need to use them.

My sex drive hasn't changed. What has changed is that I noticed that I am a little dry when initating relations....(Always wanted to use that word in a sentence...relations...lol) But once I am in my zone, I am good. I haven't had a cycle in years due to being on depo but I haven't had a shot since October and still no visits yet. I am wondering if I have made it into menopause???? I don't have hot flashes...Can I buy a clue? ;D
Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: TabooPrincess on April 05, 2010, 02:01:05 pm
Well, I always knew Ann was a nympho...Why you thinks she knows so much about condoms, hmmm? Just kidding...I never had a problem with using condoms though I don't like them much. When I was with my ex since he is poz, I didn't find the need to use them.

My sex drive hasn't changed. What has changed is that I noticed that I am a little dry when initating relations....(Always wanted to use that word in a sentence...relations...lol) But once I am in my zone, I am good. I haven't had a cycle in years due to being on depo but I haven't had a shot since October and still no visits yet. I am wondering if I have made it into menopause???? I don't have hot flashes...Can I buy a clue? ;D

It's common to go up to a year without periods after stopping depo provera.  I know many women that have had this problem.  I only had it once (for 3 months) and then stopped as I didn't like it and I didn't get a period for 6 months afterwards, I was 22 at the time.  So don't presume menopause on yourself just yet ;-)
Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: Queen Tokelove on April 06, 2010, 03:59:15 pm
Oh, ok. I miss getting my shots and loved depo. I didn't have the weight gain that most talk about. I had horrible periods that would last up to 2 weeks. Also making me anemic. So, I am happy I am not having any periods. Gives me time to find a gyn.... :-X
Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: panda on July 08, 2010, 03:29:31 pm
I am still woried about the oral sex issue .. I was few month ago at another Hiv clinic regarding fertility treatments .. I ajed the dr (female) and she said .. there is no yes or no .. No one can tell for sure .. even I am unditectable for many years .. still its not safe ?
Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: tendai on July 09, 2010, 06:40:22 am
my sex drive is all over the place.  one week i cant get enough of it. the next day im the evil ice queen and dont want to be touched. i also tend to get dry at times. maybe its the meds..
Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: camille07 on July 09, 2010, 08:15:10 am
Sounds like Ann is having a great time over on her lil isle. :D

My problem is not my sex drive.  I get my period a lot.  I was getting it twice a month and it was bad...heavy long lasting.  I've been heavy with my cycle my whole life.  I had an ompherectomy (sp?) last year so after a complete and thorough investigation into the matter, the doc says it's my body readjusting. 

It's disturbing because I'm deeply in love too, last year reconnecting.  I reconnected with the one who got away in our early twenties.  I'm hoping that I am not bleeding in two weeks for our marriage night.  I've strategically set up "the pill" schedule with some stragedy.  Loestrim, work your magic!
Title: Re: Sexual Problems More Common Among HIV-Positive Women
Post by: BusyDame on July 14, 2010, 06:43:05 am
my sex drive is all over the place.  one week i cant get enough of it. the next day im the evil ice queen and dont want to be touched. i also tend to get dry at times. maybe its the meds..

I identify with most of this, in my case its the wetness almost equvalent to a man ejaculating ;D such that a condom helps me deal with only my fluids. In addition, I get very tired and can sleep for a whole week :o. Super dryness comes in if I have to deal with an emotional issue caused by my man so I tend to keep away from sex. Yah maybe its the meds..Just can't believe its me.