Woman Veteran: Reproductive Mental Health

Women Veterans

Reproductive Mental Health

Reproductive mental health refers to well-being or mental health challenges associated with the female reproductive system. For some women, physical discomfort and rapid hormone fluctuations that occur in connection with menstrual cycles, during and after pregnancy, and before and during menopause can contribute to irritability, depression, anxiety and other mood changes.

Health conditions involving a woman’s reproductive organs can also affect her mental health. Women who experience chronic pelvic or genital pain or cancers of reproductive organs are at higher risk of depression, anxiety and other emotional changes.

Reproductive losses can cause considerable distress. Women experiencing infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy or the loss of an infant often face mental health challenges as well.

VA offers treatments for all these reproductive mental health conditions. The Women Veterans Program Manager at each VA facility can help women Veterans access reproductive mental health care.

Types of reproductive mental health conditions

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