Q and A

Question

Do ARVS affect your periods?

Hello , I have been taking my HIV meds for around a month now , can this affect my period? My last period ( 1st day of period ) was on 22nd of September 2018 now its 4th November . I had 3 urine pregnancy tests but all negative . Can this be because of meds? I don’t get any symptoms of period nor feel any pregnancy symptoms ( only maybe paranoid my nipples are abit sore )
Please help I spoke to my docs but they said not to worry.

Answer

Thanks for getting in touch.

ARVs don’t affect a woman’s menstrual cycle. Therefore this is something that you may wish to discuss with a specialist if it continues.

64 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Sbongile,

    As the above post explains, ARVs don’t cause periods to stop. If it’s possible please talk to your doctor about this.

  2. Sbongile

    Good day ,Please note that I have started taking my ARV Drug last year and now my period stopped I don’t know what is happening .

  3. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Bridgette,

    As Lisa says above, ARVs don’t affect your periods.

    I’m sorry to hear you have bad abdominal pains. But it’s important to talk to your doctor about this. Please discuss all your symptoms with them.

    What ARVs are you taking? And if you have access to your viral load and CD4 results please let us know what they are.

  4. Bridgette

    Hey I have been taking ARVs since June 2020 I haven’t seen my periods at all since August, my periods are regular I never struggled with them before but ever since I started taking ARVs they are a problem. I took several pregnancy tests and all came back negative am really worried,also I have been getting bad adbormal pains since then and struggling to sleep, vomiting alot even lack of appetite I really worried about my health please help me

  5. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Lebo,

    As Lisa says here, ARVs don’t affect a woman’s menstrual cycle. Therefore this is something that you may wish to discuss with a specialist if it continues.

    But how is your HIV treatment going? What ARVs are you taking. And if you have access to your CD4 count and viral load, please tell us what they are.

  6. Lebo

    I have started the new ARV pill it’s been 2months now I have not seen my period

  7. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Linah,

    As Lisa says on this Q&A, ARVs don’t affect a woman’s periods. So this is something that you may wish to discuss with a specialist if it continues.

  8. Linah

    Hi I been taking ARVs from 2013, well at that time I take 3 pedice of arv. In 2018 I take 1 pill at night,from last year my period stop till now what can I do

  9. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Thando,

    ARVs don’t have any impact on a womans period. Therefore you should consult a doctor.

  10. Thando

    I have been taking ARvs since sept2019 and i have not seen my period, please help me

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