The Need for Gynecologic Follow-Up Among Women Veterans: The Association of Sexual Assault and Abnormal Cervical Cytology

Multiple publications have reported the incidence of military sexual trauma (MST) among women veterans to be as high as 40%. ¹ MST has caused mental health problems and physical illness in this group. ² Other publications have stated that servicewomen have experienced unintended pregnancies as a result of MST and that sexual assault is a significant risk factor for abnormal cervical cytology. ^3,4 These articles underscore the multiple negative consequences of MST and the need for the VA to reach out to women veterans to provide them with high-quality, comprehensive care.

VA has instituted multiple changes in its healthcare system to accommodate the increasing number of women veterans and to give them gender-sensitive care. Women's health clinics are providing preventive screening, including Pap tests. This vigilance in screening for abnormal cervical cytology is clearly imperative given the high incidence of MST and the findings reported in the article, “Lifetime Sexual Assault and Cervical Cytologic Abnormalities Among Military Women.” ⁴

VA Healthcare has increased services for women veterans. Each hospital has a women veterans program manager to ensure coordination of care. Each emergency department has a women's health champion who helps provide urgent treatment for female patients and ensures that there is continuity of care to the primary care clinic, women's health clinic, and other available treatments.

I have been an emergency physician for over 20 years and proudly state that I am the women's health emergency department champion at VA Healthcare Center, Manhattan. Our emergency department is reaching out to women veterans. We want them to know that we care very much about their well-being and will help them in every possible way. Women veterans should feel confident that VA is continuously evaluating the care we are providing and working hard to improve it rapidly. These women should come for preventive screenings to improve their chances of excellent future health.