Women serving in our military face unique personal challenges that most of their male counterparts do not. These challenges include healthcare that is inadequately tailored to women, balancing family life with a military career, and high rates of sexual trauma. Military life also takes a great toll on the marriages of our servicewomen. The marriages of female troops fail at a rate three times that of our male troops. Retiring female soldiers cite "the amount of time separated from family" as the most important reason for leaving the military. Experts also say that settling back into a typical civilian routine after experiencing combat can be very difficult – for women as well as men. The suicide rate of female veterans is three times higher than it is for civilian women. Many of these tragedies occur after these women warriors have already returned home safely.

Research shows there are significantly fewer female Veterans enrolled in our VA health care system than male Veterans. These women likely do not know they can easily obtain woman-specific services through the VA at no or very low cost. Many women also experience delayed care because they do not self-identify as Veterans and do not think they are eligible for VA care. Advocates claim workshops for transitioning service women would ensure new woman Veterans take full advantage of VA health care services available to them, including mental health services, reproductive health services and maternity care benefits. In addition, women veterans are more likely than their civilian counterparts to experience early menopause due to service-related stressors and environmental exposures, such as burn pit and PFAS contamination.

Pending Legislation: H.R.2717 - Servicewomen and Veterans Menopause Research Act
Sponsor: Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA)
Status: Referred to the House Committees on Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker
House Speaker: Speaker Mike Johnson (LA)