[Heterosexual transmission of HIV--a predominantly female problem?]

Heterosexual dissemination of HIV is increasing in Norway. Women are apparently more exposed than men. 70% of Norwegian HIV-cases attributed to domestic heterosexual transmission are women. The two groups of sexual partners that most frequently infect Norwegian women with HIV are drug abusers and men from countries with a high prevalence of the disease. Physicians ought to be aware of this increase in heterosexual HIV-contamination, especially among younger women, so that they can undertake the public-health measures needed to delimit the spread of the disease. In particular, they should include sexual anamnesis in their examination of all cases where HIV-infection is a possibility.