This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Data reveal high rates of sex-specific mental health needs among women veterans

Sex-specific mental health needs are evident among women veterans seeking psychiatric care in VA clinics, according to data published in Medical Care.

“Most participants felt that their emotional problems were either definitely or possibly worse premenstrually,” Laura J. Miller, MD, and Nafisa Y. Ghadiali, MD, of the Women’s Mental Health Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in Hines, Ill., wrote.

The pilot study included women veterans (n = 68; mean age, 41 years) who underwent psychiatric evaluations within a VA Women’s Health Clinic over a 5-month period, according to researchers.

Data indicate that many women reported emotional problems that were worsened during the premenstrual period of their cycle (42.6%), during pregnancy (33.3%), in the postpartum period (33.3%), or during perimenopause (18.2%), the researchers wrote.

Sex-related stressors included unintended pregnancies (70% of pregnancies) and pregnancy loss (63.5% who were pregnant), according to data. Other comorbidities included dyspareunia (22.1%) and pelvic pain (17.6%), the researchers wrote.

“These findings suggest the need for greater awareness for the sex-specific mental health needs of women veterans, and for more definitive studies with larger sample sizes drawn from multiple sites and using validated tools to confirm links between psychiatric symptoms and reproductive cycle events,” they wrote. – by Samantha Costa

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.