Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: November | Volume: 10 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 66-69
Menopause in People Living With HIV
Arohi Chauhan1, Sandeep Chauhan2
1Women Scientist B, Department of Science and Technology
2NTEP Consultant
Corresponding Author: Arohi Chauhan
ABSTRACT
HIV and AIDS has become a major public health challenge and India has the third largest HIV epidemic globally. A large proportion of new infections are occurring in women who are married and are infected by husbands frequented by sex workers. One of the harsh consequences of AIDs epidemic in India is the increasing number of HIV positive widows. The menopausal transition in PLHIV is different owing to the gonadal dysfunction.
Methodology: Hence, a cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 30 PLHIV women. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect general health related data, socio-demographic data and contact history for TB. All the participants were screened for TB by 4s screening method. Details about menopause and its symptoms were enquired.
Result: A total of 30 PLHIV were studied. All the participants were female and widowed. All the participants were positive for HIV and had history of acquiring the infection from their positive partners. All the PLHIV were on Anti retro viral treatment for HIV. Screening for TB by 4S symptom screening method was done and it was negative in all the PLHIV. Around 33% PLHIV had <10 years duration of HIV infection and 67% had > 10 years duration of HIV infection. CD4 T cell Count was below 350 in 13% PLHIV, 53% had CD 4 count between 350-700 and 34% had above 700 CD 4 T Cell count. Almost half of the PLHIV had menopause in their forties whereas half had menopause between 41-50 years of age. In 2/3rd PLHIV, transition period was less than 6 months.
Conclusion: In the present study almost half of the women had experienced menopause in their forties. In women living with HIV, an intricate relationship between HIV and menopause appears to exist in that HIV may influence the natural history, experience, and complications of menopause, while menopause itself could potentially influence the course of HIV infection. This bidirectional relationship between HIV infection and menopause confers an additional layer of complexity to the ongoing management of HIV-infected women as they age, and presents new and vaguely understood challenges for clinicians.
Key words: People living with HIV, Menopause, TB, CD4 T cell count