Why Are Women At Risk?

Most women are at risk of contracting the diseases because we are unaware of the possibility of getting the disease.  As women we sometimes are quick to believe that we are the only ones that our mates are with, rather than asking ourselves is it possible for our mates to be seeing someone else.  Some of us even think that if we are married then there is no way that we will get it but there is research that says even married women are at risk, and no matter what your relationship status is you should still be tested regularly.  An article from NYU Medical talks about how women become at risk for getting the disease, and they say that you put yourself at risk anytime you have unprotected sex.  They also say that women are twice as likely to contract the disease then men are.  NYU Medical also talks about how the use of shared needles increases your chances of contracting the disease because it is spread through bodily fluids.  Thabo says, "Many young people engage in risky sexual behaviours due to peer pressure, exchange of sex for material goods or money, the use of sex to barter for good grades, the use of sexfor stress relief, and juvenile competition for prestige that includes sex with multiple partners and sex to avoid being laughed at or called names."  He also says, " In addition, relationships between men and women have been perceived as weaker, shorter, and result in frequent changesof both faithful and unfaithful partners, thereby increasing the risk of HIV infection.  Alleyne also says that African American women are experiencing rates of HIV that are 22 times greater than those of white women.  She also says, " The college experience is often marked with high rates of alcoholl abuse and sexual experimentation that place this population at risk for HIV and other STDs.