PROJECTS

Women Like Us - frequently asked questions about women and HIV/AIDS

This information is based on the 'Women Like Us' pamphlet from Positive Women Victoria.

What kind of women have HIV/AIDS?
Any woman can get infected with HIV and develop AIDS. Our ages range from under 10 to women in their sixties. Most of us are between the ages of 20 and 40. We come from different religions and cultures; we all have different life experiences. We are somebody's daughter, mother, sister - even grandmother.

Can I still have a baby?
Half of us already have children. But some of us would like more children. And some of us would like to start a family. It is a difficult decision to make. Some women gave birth before they knew they were infected with HIV. Some women have babies who are not infected with HIV while others were born with the HIV infection. Until recently the chance of a positive woman having a positive baby was about 1 in 4. But a woman thinking about pregnancy now has access to new drug treatments. These can reduce the chances of having an infected baby to almost no risk at all (less than 2%). For some women this is still too much of a risk, for other women it is not. Every woman has the right to make her own decisions.

Does your partner/husband have HIV/AIDS?
Some of us are married or have boyfriends or girlfriends who also have HIV. Others have relationships with partners who are not infected. Some of us are single - it can be harder to find a partner if you are positive because of the fear surrounding HIV.

Do you still have sex?
Absolutely! Anyone with HIV can continue to have sex. By having safe sex with our partners they are not at risk of infection. Using safe sex practices also means we can protect ourselves from other sexually transmitted diseases as well.

Do you get sick a lot?
Being infected doesn't mean we are sick all the time. Many of us live full, healthy lives with few problems, while others have a lot of constant illness. A person does not have to have any symptoms, or look sick, to be infected with HIV. Some of us have had HIV for over 10 years and have not been sick; others have had a lot of illness.

How did you get it?
We generally won't answer this question because it shouldn't matter. We believe people should get treated the same no matter how they got infected. The majority of us were infected in the same way - by trusting a partner. We had unprotected sex with boyfriends or husbands, not knowing they were already infected with HIV. Some of us were infected from sharing needles, some of us from being raped.

Men and women having unsafe sex with each other cause over 70% of all new infections among women today. People in relationships may decide to stop using condoms without knowing if either of them are infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Communication and honesty are very important in preventing transmission of sexually transmitted infections.

When are you going to die?
Just like you, none of us know when we are going to die. We happen to be living with a virus in our bodies that may or may not make us sick in the future. Many of us believe in maintaining a positive state of mind and keeping ourselves healthy.

Is there a cure or a vaccine yet?
Since 1996, treatments for HIV have reduced death and illness due to AIDS, so that we live longer and have more choices in our lives, such as having babies. However, anti-HIV medications don't provide a cure. We need to take medications long term and not all of us can regain our full health. There is still no effective vaccine against HIV, so it is still better not to become infected in the first place.

How can I help women with HIV/AIDS?
Women with HIV/AIDS are generally managing their lives well. However, from time to time they might need help from organisations that work with positive women. Educate yourself and others about HIV. Become a volunteer. Contact the AIDS Council of South Australia (08) 8334 1611 or People Living with HIV/AIDS - SA Inc (08) 8293 3700 for information about volunteering.