Women's Health
The number of women Veterans has been steadily growing since 2000, when they accounted for 6 percent of all U.S. Veterans. By 2023, that percentage had increased to more than 11 percent. By 2043, 2.2 million women are projected to make up 17 percent of all living Veterans.
While VA has been studying the health needs of women Veterans since at least the Vietnam era, its Office of Research and Development has established several key 21st-century initiatives to accelerate the translation and implementation of evidence to meet the needs of this rapidly growing population. Health systems researchers study the unique characteristics and needs of women who use VA care, and investigate how to redesign women’s primary care services accordingly. Other areas of research focus include reproductive health and maternity care, barriers to mental healthcare services specifically for women, screening protocols for women-specific health issues, and treatment strategies for post-deployment conditions affecting women Veterans.
Each section below is populated by a search of the HSR website. Search results are generated based on the search term "Women Veterans" . Results are updated as new data are available.
VIEW: Citations | Publication Briefs | Studies | HSR Briefs, Reports, Newsletters | Cyberseminars | Videos | Podcasts | Other Resources
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Citations
(recent WOMEN VETERANS publications)
- Rodriguez A, Fenwick KM, Borsky AE, Frayne SM, Hamilton AB, Yano EM. Results of a Multistep Approach to Setting Research Priorities to Improve Women Veterans' Health: Updated VA Women's Health Research Agenda. Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. 2026 Jan 16 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2025.12.004.
- Govier DJ, Than CT, Danan ER, Chawla N, Hoggatt KJ, Yano EM, Hynes DM. Health-Related Social Needs and Outpatient and Emergency Department Use Among US Women Veterans: NHIS 2015-2018. Journal of general internal medicine. 2025 Dec 19 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-025-09952-2.
- Shepherd-Banigan M, Cummin GL, Berkowitz TS, Weidenbacher HJ, Moss H, Chawla N, Goldstein KM, Hazra A, Bayley EM, Colonna S, Smith I, Halwani AS, Kelley MJ, Zullig LL. Prevalence of Toxic Exposures Among Women Veterans With Breast or Gynecologic Cancers Receiving Veterans Affairs (VA) Care. Military medicine. 2025 Nov 20 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usaf561.
- Sadler AG, Mengeling MA, Cook BL, Torner JC, Vander Weg M, Hamilton AB, Platt J, Heeren A, Fuhrmeister L, Smith JL. Development of a Patient Decision Aid to Prevent Firearm Suicide Among US Women Reserve and National Guard Veterans. Journal of general internal medicine. 2025 Nov 13 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-025-09942-4.
- May KJ, Erickson AJ, Carlson GC, Kelly MR, Song Y, Revolorio KY, Mitchell MN, Washington DL, Yano EM, Alessi CA, McGowan SK, Fung CH, Martin JL. Black Women Benefit From Psychotherapies for Insomnia, but Experience Adherence Challenges: Results of a Comparative Effectiveness Trial in Women Veterans. Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. 2025 Oct 13 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2025.08.003.
» View more Citations
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Publication Briefs
(recent WOMEN VETERANS Publication Briefs )
- Women Veterans with PTSD More Likely Than Men to Receive Guideline Discordant Medication
This study examined potential confounders in incident prescribing of guideline discordant medications (GDM) in Veterans with PTSD. Findings showed that women Veterans with PTSD were 67% more likely than men to initiate a GDM, where more than half of this effect was explained by bipolar disorder diagnosis, age, and the number of distinct psychiatric medications prescribed in the prior year. After a...
Date: June 5, 2024
- Women Veterans More Likely to Have Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions and Higher Pain Interference and Intensity
This study examined gender differences in chronic pain and its contributors. Findings showed that, compared to men, women Veterans were more likely to have chronic overlapping pain conditions and had higher levels of pain interference and intensity. Women had higher prevalence of psychiatric and sleep disorder diagnoses, greater levels of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, fatigu...
Date: February 12, 2024
- Research Priorities for Women Veterans’ Reproductive Health
Held in September 2021, The National VA Reproductive Health Research Conference provided a unique opportunity to survey the current state of knowledge on women Veterans’ reproductive health and to discuss and identify research priorities that will support optimizing VA reproductive healthcare in the context of a Learning Healthcare System. Priorities highlight the need for reproductive health rese...
Date: January 24, 2023
- Male and Female Veterans Differ in Attitudes to Referral to VA Care after Calling the Veterans Crisis Line
This study described Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) referral outcomes for Veterans who contacted the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) with active thoughts of suicide during calendar years 2018–2019. Reasons given for declining SPC referral suggest that concerns about or discomfort with VA care were a key concern, particularly among women Veterans. Women had a higher rate of declining SPC referrals...
Date: January 1, 2023
- JGIM Supplement Features VA Research on Women Veterans’ Health and Healthcare
This special issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM), titled “Moving Women Veterans’ Health Research Forward,” includes 25 articles and 2 editorials that highlight innovations and new findings related to women Veterans’ health and healthcare, including the diverse needs and experiences of women Veterans and active duty and Reserve/National Guard servicewomen....
Date: September 1, 2022
» View more Publication Briefs
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Studies
(recent WOMEN VETERANS projects
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| Project No. |
Title |
PI |
Funding End |
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MRA0-004-24W
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Optimizing Veteran Health through Evidence-based Learning Health Systems Science - Research Career
Scientist Award Application |
Martin, Jennifer |
2032-06-30 |
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IIR 23-025
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Evaluating Veterans' Reproductive Healthcare Access, Quality and Outcomes in a Changing Landscape (EVOLVE) |
Callegari, Lisa |
2029-06-30 |
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CDA 21-015
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Addressing Disparities In Pain Management |
Javier, Sarah |
2028-07-31 |
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CDA 20-227
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Increasing PTSD Treatment Engagement in Women Veterans: Role of CBT for Insomnia |
Carlson, Gwendolyn |
2027-12-31 |
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SDR 22-058
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Gender differences in Veteran reintegration and associated suicide risk |
Denneson, Lauren |
2027-10-31 |
» View more Studies
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HSR Briefs, Reports, Newsletters
» View more Publications
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Cyberseminars
The most recent "Women Veterans" seminars are displayed.
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| Date |
Title |
Presenter(s) |
| 1/26/2026 |
The Next Mission: Labor Force Participation and Unemployment Among Post-9/11 Women Veterans
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Pugh, Mary Jo
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| 11/19/2024 |
An Evidence Map of the Women Veterans’ Health Literature (2016-2023)
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Yano, Elizabeth
Goldstein, Karen
Pace, Rachel
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| 9/24/2024 |
Improving Access to Urinary Incontinence Treatment through Mobile Health
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Markland, Alayne
Morgan, Chelsea
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| 7/8/2024 |
Women Veterans’ Healthcare Provider Workforce Experiences
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Zivin, Kara
Olmos-Ochoa, Tanya
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| 4/25/2024 |
Women Veterans’ Experiences of Harassment at VA Healthcare Facilities: What Have We Learned and Where Do We Need to Go?
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Fenwick, Karissa
Shekelle, Jeanette
Jackson, Discussant: Lelia
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» View more Cyberseminars
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Other Resources
- Visit VA's Office of Research and Development's Women's Health Research Program Page to learn more about research milestones.
- Visit the Office of Research and Development’s women’s health topic page.
- Visit VA's Center for Women Veterans website.
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