There are over two million female veterans living in the US today. Despite being a formally recognized part of the US military for almost 80 years, women are still fighting for proper medical care. Their numbers may be increasing, but their unique health challenges are frequently overlooked. In this post, we’ll explore some of the battles they face.
Mental Health
Being a woman puts you at a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues in your lifetime. The same is true for female veterans. For instance, research shows a past-year prevalence of PTSD in over 11% of women veterans compared to 5.2% of male vets. Shockingly, even women civilians had a higher prevalence than male veterans (6.0%). Contributing factors include life-threatening injury, physical attacks, and other combat-related exposure.
Military sexual trauma (MST) is also alarmingly prevalent among female veterans, with more than roughly one in three reporting sexual harassment or assault during their military service. MST has a massive psychological impact and can lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation. A recent study reported that experiencing MST caused women veterans to think about suicide nearly five times more.
Physical Health
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among female veterans. It accounts for a massive 30% of all cancer diagnoses. Other, rarer forms of cancer also pose a serious risk. For example, mesothelioma: an aggressive respiratory cancer. Veterans with mesothelioma may have been exposed to asbestos during active military service. This toxic substance was widely used in everything from shipbuilding to aircraft, communication centers, and weapon storage areas. Even military living quarters still used today may contain asbestos.
Reproductive and Sexual Health
Military culture, which has historically been male-dominated (and still is), can make it more difficult for women to find and receive appropriate healthcare. This is especially true when it comes to reproductive and sexual health issues. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides reproductive health care, but women still underreport things like infertility, menstrual disorders, and sexual dysfunction.
Barriers to Healthcare Access
Healthcare services are available to female veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, female veterans face several barriers, including a lack of gender-specific services. Many facilities were not designed to accommodate female needs, leading to gaps in services like gynecology or mammography. Institutional barriers are also an issue. The male-centric culture can discourage women from asking for help when they need it and lead to feelings of isolation.
Offering Support
Female veterans face a wide range of health challenges, many linked to their active duty, which are often not properly recognized. From mental health struggles that stem from combat-related trauma or MST to physical problems like cancer and reproductive issues, one thing is clear.
More needs to be done to support the women who have courageously served the country. Ultimately, we need to provide more comprehensive and gender-inclusive care and shift the culture to one that encourages women to seek it in the first place.
