New Study Blames Spread of HIV/AIDS On Women, Sort Of

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Georgia O'Keeffe's "Red Canna" which is just lovely.
Although the early stages of the AIDS epidemic saw more men infected with HIV than women, a new study from UC San Francisco suggests that certain factors unique to women could be contributing to the current spread. More specifically, the study found that the bacteria in those dirty vaginas of theirs (We kid! Love you, ladies!) can make women more likely to transmit the virus to their male partners.

Published in the journal PLoS Medicine last month, the study looked at 2,236 couples in sub-Saharan Africa where women, especially those aged 15-24 are already eight times more likely to be HIV-positive than men. The study found that women with bacterial vaginosis — or as it's more poetically known: "a disruption of the normal vaginal flora" — were three times more likely to pass the virus on to their male partners than women with (ahem) healthy flora.

While it's still unclear what it is about BV that makes one more likely to transmit HIV, lead author Dr. Craig Cohen of UCSF's OB/GYN & Reproductive Sciences Department, explained that the condition is incredibly common, almost to the point of normality. It affects up to 55% of women in parts of Africa and other resource-poor countries and it is hard to spot because it generally doesn't have much in the way of visible symptoms. As Dr. Cohen put it to the Chronicle: "People don't consider bacterial vaginosis a healthy, natural state. But if you have half the population of women with BV, it begs the question of what's normal."

Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Horberg, director of HIV/AIDS over at Kaiser Permanente, helpfully offered some advice on what this means for the ladies in the audience: "The take-home message is clearly that bacterial vaginosis, when seen, needs to be treated."

[PLoS Medicine]
[Chron]

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By Andrew Dalton in News on July 5, 2012 12:45 PM
  • AIDS Epidemic
  • health
  • HIV
  • HIV/AIDS
  • illness
  • studies
  • what
  • women

Comments [rss]

  • Nicole Maron

    This article has good info. Perhaps next time you could get a grown up to write it?

  • MeanDaddyD

    So, I guess this means that the female pussy is the universal sexually transmitted disease force field known as the 'God particle', or better known as BV to atheists, that allows for the rapid transmission of AIDS/HIV from one sexual encounter to another at the speed of light while maintaining mass.

    Which can only mean a new Wikipedia phrase will soon be introduced to the infected population at-large:

    'I Higgs bosoned that jerk Alex by banging Mary Jane Rottencrotch last Saturday night. Alex slept with her early Sunday morning, which mean Alex's Higgs bosoned dick will probably fall off within the next two weeks.'

  • DonKeysHoTea

    dirty, dirty vaginas. the dirtier, the better.

  • canofpeas

    That's absolute bullshit.  It's so much more difficult for men to get HIV from women than the other way around; that's a fact.

  • LaughingATuRN

    This study seems flawed, great for understanding the African HIV epidemic but doesn't explain shit for us 1st worlders. 

  • Tiffany Wohlers

    Your understanding of this study is flawed.  Just because "us 1st worlders" may not have as high of a rate of BV that doesn't mean that this information isn't helpful.  Like Dr. Horberg said-- if you have BV you should get it treated, because it could harbor worse diseases like HIV or other STDs.  1st world women can get BV too.  Anyways, not every study is done just to better the lives of the wealthy.....

  • LaughingATuRN

    ::slow building clap:: 

    In regards to BV, my dear, if you've ever had it you would know somethings up. It's street name is nasty coochie disorder, so again this study told me nothing I did not know. If you knew anything about BV you would understand why this study provides nothing to me. Retaining a infection of BV is like retaining a yeast infection long term. So, I can't speak for all American women but I don't think we would allow such a infection to fester and thus making it more likely to spread HIV. - Per this study.

  • Tiffany Wohlers

    You definitely can't speak for all American women, that is for sure!

    Your comparison to yeast infections is naive-- I know plenty of women who get yeast infections on a regular basis and they continue to engage in their sex life despite the symptoms. In addition, our health care system doesn't make it easy to get immediate treatment unless your'e willing to pay hundreds of dollars for emergency care.  Infections don't need to "fester" before they become a problem. It is entirely possible for a woman with HIV to have BV and thus increase the chances of her passing it to someone else in the USA even if she sought treatment in a timely manner.

    Also, you sure could be more compassionate towards the women of Africa (or any other 3rd world country to speak on your terms) or least realize the world doesn't revolve around anyone, including you!

  • LaughingATuRN

    Damn you have x-ray vision girl, seeing people's feelings and shit, you're good. 

    Thank god for the both of us you don't speak for all American women either. 

    Pat yourself on the back for talking in circles while no one is listening. 

  • Tiffany Wohlers

    What?! You make me laugh... and clearly, you are listening... kind of.

  • cyncity.org

    Hmm...I'm confused, are these countries those that have little access to fresh water and food?

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