Women of all ages can get HIV – including women over 50
- One in four people living with HIV in the United States is a woman.
- More than every second new HIV diagnosis affects people over 50 years of age.
Older women are more likely than younger women to be diagnosed at a late stage of the disease – possibly because they do not know they are at risk.
Diagnosing the disease later increases the risk of developing HIV-related illnesses and dying from the disease.
How might menopause affect HIV risk?
Women over 50 still have sex.
In a recent study, one in two people over 50 said they had had sex in the last week. Because pregnancy is no longer an issue for postmenopausal women, they may not think about safe sex—or talk about it with their partners or providers.
This means postmenopausal women may be less likely to use condoms to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. But perimenopausal and postmenopausal women may be particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. Hormonal changes can cause thinning and dryness of the vagina, making the vaginal tissue vulnerable to tears – increasing the risk of HIV entering the body during sex.
Some older women (and their healthcare providers) chalk up health changes to menopause, even though it could be something else
Night sweats, for example, are a classic symptom of menopause – but are also common in people with HIV.
HIV prevention during menopause and beyond
You are never too old to protect yourself from HIV. Start with these proactive steps:
- Use a condom if you are unsure about your partner’s HIV status.
- Get tested for HIV.
- Ask your doctor about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), medications that can prevent HIV.
This educational resource was created with support from Merck.