Heterosexual HIV Infection

Heterosexuality is a big cause of HIV contraction. Where monogamous heterosexuality is a healthy and normal phenomena if both the partners are HIV negative, heterosexuality with multiple partners can lead to heterosexual HIV infection. In the western nations, Homosexuality was the biggest cause of spawning HIV at the nascent stage of the epidemic.

Homosexual transmission increases the tendency of heterosexual transmission too. However, the fact remains that heterosexual HIV infection is more prevalent in lower-income nations than the advanced nations. In advanced nations, in an average, 0.08% of females get the infection from infected males, and 0.04% of males acquire HIV from infected females. This percentage is many folds greater in developing or underdeveloped nations.

Heterosexual transmission of HIV is the biggest cause of propagation of the disease worldwide. 35% of HIV contraction happens due to heterosexual contact. In 64%ofcases the females are at stake, as they indulge into prostitution, which is the biggest reason behind heterosexual HIV infection.

Symptoms of heterosexual HIV infection:

All the symptoms of HIV caused due to heterosexual relations are same as in other causes. Common initial symptoms are fever, headache, dysentery, vomiting etc. However, the presence of HIV antibodies cannot be diagnosed immediately after its contraction. It's only detected after the seroconversion period. Therefore, after any risky sexual act, with any person belonging to the high risk groups, it is mandatory to go for frequent HIV tests

Factors that lead to heterosexual HIV infection:

• Commercial sex work is the most significant cause of heterosexual HIV infection. Commercial sex workers are eleven times more prone to HIV than the others.
• Genital ulcer in any one of the sexual partner can increase the tendency of the other partner getting infected
• The transmission of the disease is also determined by the stage of HIV in the infected partner. It has been found that per-act risk was 0.66% in the early stage and 0.55% at the late stage, compared to 0.07% per act during the asymptomatic stage.
• Anal sex can also lead to heterosexual HIV infection, with an estimate of 1.7% per-act.

How can heterosexual HIV infection be prevented?

1. The best way to prevent the transmission of HIV infection is to use condoms and create a barrier, in transfusion of the disease from one partner to the other.
2. A recent study has proved that getting circumcised reduces the tendency of transfusion of HIV. Circumcised means removing the loose skin of the male genital.
3. Indulge in sexual alliance with only one partner who is HIV Negative. Having sexual relation with more than one partner means more chances of getting HIV contraction from various sources
4. Use of female condoms can be made if the male is not ready to use one

Heterosexual HIV infection is the biggest cause of HIV propagation in most of the countries. That is the reason why proper anti-HIV campaigns and education is very essential. As most of the heterosexual infected patients are from poor countries with little or no education, they are more likely to be victimized with heterosexual HIV infection during their active sexual period. The use of condoms should be supported. Sex workers should carry female and male condoms.