Data Trends 2025: Women's Health

Women, the fastest-growing veteran subpopulation, represent over 10% of US veterans and are projected to reach 18% by 2040.¹ Currently, 28% of women veterans use VHA services, with 44% receiving VHA-funded community care.² While 86% of VHA women veterans are under 65, the population is aging.^3,4 Compared to male veterans, women experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, military sexual trauma (MST), musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, and PTSD—though evidence on sex differences in PTSD is mixed.^5,6 Women veterans also face pregnancy-related challenges, including childcare barriers, difficulty discontinuing pain medications, poor VHA-obstetric coordination, and higher perinatal mortality. In 2010, VHA Directive 1330 established standards for women’s healthcare, including designated women’s health providers.⁷ In 2018, Directive 1115 outlined MST-related care, screening, and free treatment.⁸ Despite progress in women’s healthcare and a greater sense of welcome at VHA, gaps persist in provider availability, community care coordination, and harassment within facilities.⁹ Women veterans also report barriers such as lack of insurance, unaffordable care, transportation issues, and inability to take time off work.¹⁰