There are several million HIV-positive people in the world, of whom a significant proportion are women. The influence that the pathology itself has on the organism and the drugs used in it is great. It extends to the functions of the reproductive system. This is manifested in particular by the fact that menstrual problems can change, cause more problems and anxiety. But they are all solvable.
Features of the cycle for HIV
Menstrual function is one of the indicators of the health of the reproductive system. It is dependent on many factors, normal immunity is the most important of them, although not the only one. The disease in question is characterized by the inhibition of the body's defenses. This certainly will not go unnoticed by all of its systems. Therefore, monthly infections can result in a number of complexities of different nature:
| Violation of | Why it happens |
| Irregular approach to them | The virus acts on the body in such a way that the production of eggs slows down, and the development of the mucous membrane of the uterus will also be inhibited. Monthly will come later than expected. In another cycle, the viral effect can turn out to be such that all these processes will zip faster, and menstruation will come early. |
| Intensive release of | The virus disrupts many biological processes. Can change and secretory function of some organs, regulation of cell division. From this, the endometrium is able to thicken abnormally, the cervix and the vagina produce more mucus. This will lead to profuse periods. |
| Absence of menstruation for a long time | Often accompanying each other with a vigor and delay in menstruation, which can go up to 90 days or more. This is also one of the signs of inhibition by the virus of normal reactions in the body. The whole chain, providing menstrual function, has many links, the most important of which are the pituitary, hypothalamus and ovaries. The virus is capable of affecting one or all of them at once, which will cause a long absence of menstruation. |
| Reinforced PMS | The unimportant state of health, characteristic of many healthy women in this period, can deteriorate markedly in the presence of the virus. There are strong and long-lasting pains in the abdomen and lower back, vegetative-vascular manifestations, nausea, sharp emotional reactions. |
How the disease affects the female reproductive system
Not everyone can understand why the infection so affects the menstrual function. After all, not always it is sexually transmitted, there are other ways to get it.
But HIV has a comprehensive impact on the body. And the longer it remains uncontrolled, that is, not to be inhibited by treatment, the right way of life, the wider it will spread. Changes in the immune system become stronger so much that it affects other parts of the body. If the virus breaks the balance of hormones, problems with menstruation are inevitable. Minor changes in the level of estrogens and gestagens will cause difficulties in the implementation of the menstrual function itself. After all, they interfere with the processes in the ovaries, the uterus and even the brain. That is, obstacles arise in all areas responsible for the work of the reproductive system.
On the other hand, the peculiarities of its development can become one of the reasons for getting an infection. It is known that the woman's immunity in critical days is weakening. The organism undergoes an increased load during this period. Resources for his own protection, he remains less. Can I catch HIV with menstruation? It is in this period that the task of the virus to penetrate the body is eased as much as possible, since in the blood its existence is more comfortable. And the concentration of parasitic cells in it is higher than in other tissues and secretory fluids. Conditions for reproduction are also favorable, because immunity is so oppressed.
Additional factors that cause problems with monthly
Problems with menstrual function can be caused by the consequences of the existence of the virus in the body:
- Weight loss. Often, patients with HIV infection lose weight, that is, lose the important fatty layer for menstrual function. Physical exhaustion is an additional factor in the incorrect balance of sex hormones. Hence the incorrect functioning of the reproductive organs and, as a result, delays, changes in the number of secretions, strong manifestations of PMS.
- Anemia. HIV infection can cause a disorder of the hematopoietic function or alter the composition of the blood. If it reduces the number of platelets, the level of hemoglobin will also drop. And this is another sign of exhaustion of the body. He simply does not have enough strength to carry out all the functions, first of all - menstrual. It is possible that the cause of anemia will be severe bleeding with menstruation due to the virus. A delay will be found later. And because the virus affects blood in the first place, and the biological fluid is an obligatory component of menstrual flow, the analysis of HIV during menstruation does not pass. Changes that occur in the female body during this period can lead to false results of the study.
- Nervous disorders. Not every person adapts quickly to the fact that he has a serious infection. If you constantly scroll in the head of the thought of it, it's easy to add to a nervous breakdown, depression. And this is another factor of a strong hormonal disorder. Hence the long absence of monthly, the strongest manifestations of PMS in critical days and other difficulties.
- Real gynecological and venereal diseases. If there is a virus in the body for obvious reasons, it is easier to get other pathologies than without it. After all, immunity is not able to cope with aggressive bacteria and microbes. The risk of HIV infection at monthly higher, but the likelihood of dysplasia of the cervix, cancer of female organs with infection increases. So if there are problems with menstruation, it makes sense to check with a gynecologist, take tests for STIs.
- Drug use. A dirty syringe is a common cause of HIV infection. If you do not leave this habit or change it to smoke grass, the problems with the months are exacerbated. Add their share in the piggy bank disruption of digestion( lack of assimilation of the necessary substances), characteristic of the presence of drugs in the body.
We recommend reading the article about the menstrual cycle disorder. From it you will learn about what is considered a deviation from the norm, the possible causes of the malfunction, illnesses causing a disorder cycle, methods of treating dysfunction.
Influence of drugs against HIV on the
cycle In the treatment of infection, agents that have a strong influence on the body are used. It also provides an effect in the fight against the disease. But this influence can lead to side effects. One of them - a violation of menstrual function.
Other drugs used in HIV can also affect the hormonal, endocrine, nervous systems. And from their work, the features of the implementation of the menstrual function also depend, which means that her disorders are possible.
Problems and solution
All explanations of the complexities with the monthly presence of the virus should not be reassured. With them it is necessary to fight, taking the following measures:
- Identify the exact culprit of menstrual irregularities. It can be: pregnancy, neoplasms on the ovaries, infections, sudden weight loss, anemia, inflammation in the pelvic area, drugs for HIV, STI.
- Treated from detected gynecological problems. Do not be afraid to take hormonal medications if a doctor has been appointed. They help to adjust the balance of substances and rid of amenorrhea or profuse periods.
- Use folk medicine methods that cope with hormone imbalance. These are dietary supplements with soy, complexes with omega-3 acids, tocopherol, carotenoids, group B vitamins, calcium, magnesium. They all contribute to the regulation of menstrual function, reduce discomfort and pain in critical days.
- Do yoga, do acupuncture sessions. They will help stabilize the balance of hormones, calm nerves. This is important for the functioning of the reproductive system.
Given the rate of increase in the incidence of infection, many are concerned about the question: what is the probability of contracting a monthly HIV?It is higher than on other days. And even a condom will not become a 100% guarantee of protection against the disease. This is another reason to put off making love at a more favorable time.