Why Are Women More Easily Infected By HIV Than Men?

Women are two to four times more likely to get infected with HIV through unprotected vaginal sex than men, due to the following reasons:

1. Women are recipients of semen. Semen stays in our body for hours, why men are exposed to our body fluid for a very short period of time.
2. The concentration of HIV is much higher than the concentration of HIV in vaginal fluids;
3. Women possess a larger surface area of mucosa (the thin lining of the vagina and cervix) which is exposed to their partner’s secretions during sexual intercourse;
4. Many women have cervical or vaginal conditions, such as STIs, erosions, open sores and infections, that facilitate the transmission of HIV;
5. Many women practice “dry” sex and they cause damage or infection to the vaginal walls (“dry” sex is a cultural practice where women use herbs or other substances - such as Jik or washing powder - to dry out their vaginas for the benefit of some men who believe that a dry vagina is a sign of faithfulness, or to heighten their sexual pleasure.) This practice is painful and extremely dangerous because it increases the risk of HIV infection;
6. Transmission of HIV is more likely to occur just before, during or immediately after menstruation because of the large, raw area of the inner uterine lining that is exposed;
7. Younger women are especially vulnerable to HIV infection because their genital tracts are not yet fully mature, their vaginal secretions are not so copious, and because they are more prone to lacerations or tears of the vaginal lining. (There is also evidence to suggest that women once again become more vulnerable to HIV infection after menopause).
8. Women often practice anal sex to avoid pregnancy, to maintain “virginity”, or because their male partners prefer anal sex for reasons similar to the reasons why they prefer “dry sex”. Research has shown that the chances to become infected with HIV after one act of unprotected receptive anal sex is approximately 20 times greater than after one act of unprotected vaginal sex.
9. Social inequalities often make women more vulnerable to HIV infection especially in societies which accord women a lower status than men. Women in such situations have little or no control over their sex lives, and they are not in a position to negotiate safer sex practices because they fear violence and abandonment should they try to do so. Women from low socioeconomic environments are often driven to prostitution, and they are particularly vulnerable to rape.

 Dr Sindisiwe van Zyl