Divorced, middle-aged women more vulnerable to HIV

[Avnish Jolly]

Divorced, middle-aged women more vulnerable to HIV
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/divorced-middle-aged-women-more-vulnerable-to-hiv_100595843.html#.Ty_VcSjkVPY
Mon Feb 06 2012

Washington, Feb 6 (IANS) Newly-divorced middle-aged women are more
vulnerable to contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases,
a study reveals.

It is because they tend to let their guard down with new sexual
partners and avoid using protection since they are unafraid of getting
pregnant, said study author Christopher Coleman, associate professor
at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

Additionally, as ageing occurs, physiological changes due to menopause
such as the thinning of vaginal walls make it more susceptible for a
woman to contract a virus.

Medications that would be used to treat an STD or HIV become hard for
a woman to tolerate because an ageing body metabolizes medications
differently, a university statement said.

“There is a knowledge gap with women knowing what the physiological
changes associated with menopause are,” said Coleman.

“There is very little research on this subject and society and the
government does not talk about it, but these high risk sexual
behaviours need to be addressed because the rate of HIV-positive in
middle-aged women is increasing,” Coleman concluded.