Women face unique health problems related to many of NIAID’s mission areas—specifically, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and autoimmune disorders. Many infectious and autoimmune diseases affect female populations disproportionately. For example, genital herpes from herpes simplex virus 2 is nearly twice as common among women as among men. Likewise, women account for more cases of chlamydia, lupus, and scleroderma than do men.
Even diseases that strike men and women in near equal numbers may have unique consequences or complications for women. For instance, women with HIV suffer gender-specific complications such as recurrent vaginal yeast infections and pelvic inflammatory disease, in addition to the complications that also affect men. Women also risk passing some of these diseases to children during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
NIAID’s Role in Women’s Health Research
NIAID is committed to research that helps reduce the incidence and improve the treatment of infectious and autoimmune diseases affecting women. Its efforts have led to the development of better drugs for HIV/AIDS, rapid diagnostics for STIs, and initiatives funding research into the causes of autoimmune diseases that disproportionately affect women. Learn more about NIAID’s women’s health research. |
News and Events
Clinical Trial of Antiretroviral-based HIV Prevention Strategies for Women Now Under Way–Sept. 16, 2009
Statement: Early Results from Clinical Trials of 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccines in Healthy Adults–Sept. 11, 2009
NIAID Launches 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Trial in Pregnant Women–Sept. 9, 2009
Q&A: NIAID Trial of Candidate 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine in Pregnant Women at the Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units–Sept. 9, 2009
All Women's Health News Releases