Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36(06): 315-322
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1678750
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Reproductive Health of Women Veterans: A Systematic Review of the Literature from 2008 to 2017

Jodie G. Katon
1   US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington
2   Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington
,
Laurie Zephyrin
3   VA Office of Patient Care Services, Women's Health Services, Washington, District of Columbia
4   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VA Harbor Medical Center, New York City, New York
5   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York School of Medicine, New York, NY
,
Anne Meoli
6   VHA, SimLEARN National Simulation Center, Orlando, Florida
,
Avanthi Hulugalle
7   New York University College of Global Public Health, New York City, New York
,
Jeane Bosch
8   VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
,
Lisa Callegari
1   US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington
9   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
,
Ileana V. Galvan
3   VA Office of Patient Care Services, Women's Health Services, Washington, District of Columbia
,
Kristen E. Gray
1   US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington
2   Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington
,
Kristin O. Haeger
3   VA Office of Patient Care Services, Women's Health Services, Washington, District of Columbia
,
Claire Hoffmire
10   Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, Colorado
11   Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
,
Silvina Levis
12   Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida
,
Erica W. Ma
1   US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington
,
Jennifer E. Mccabe
13   VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, Washington
,
Yael I. Nillni
14   National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
15   Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Suzanne L. Pineles
14   National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
15   Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Shivani M. Reddy
16   VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
22   Center for Advanced Methods Development, RTI International, Waltham, Massachusetts
,
David A. Savitz
17   Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
,
Jonathan G. Shaw
18   Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
19   Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California
,
Elizabeth W. Patton
20   Division of Gynecology, Department of Surgery, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
21   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
19 April 2019 (online)

Abstract

The literature on the reproductive health and healthcare of women Veterans has increased dramatically, though there are important gaps. This article aims to synthesize recent literature on reproductive health and healthcare of women Veterans. We updated a literature search to identify manuscripts published between 2008 and July 1, 2017. We excluded studies that were not original research, only included active-duty women, or had few women Veterans in their sample. Manuscripts were reviewed using a standardized abstraction form. We identified 52 manuscripts. Nearly half (48%) of the new manuscripts addressed contraception and preconception care (n = 15) or pregnancy (n = 10). The pregnancy and family planning literature showed that (1) contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy among women Veterans using VA healthcare is similar to that of the general population; (2) demand for VA maternity care is increasing; and (3) women Veterans using VA maternity care are a high-risk population for adverse pregnancy outcomes. A recurrent finding across topics was that history of lifetime sexual assault and mental health conditions were highly prevalent among women Veterans and associated with a wide variety of adverse reproductive health outcomes across the life course. The literature on women Veterans' reproductive health is rapidly expanding, but remains largely observational. Knowledge gaps persist in the areas of sexually transmitted infections, infertility, and menopause.

Supplementary Material

 
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