Have you wondered what women’s health care is like at VA? Women Veterans can get holistic care they can trust at women’s health clinics in VA medical centers.
Enrolling in VA health care gives eligible women Veterans access to comprehensive women’s care services like primary care, including immunizations and screening; reproductive health care, including breast and gynecological care; family planning, prenatal and maternity care, menopausal management, and mental health care.
Air Force and Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran Ebony Grey tells other women Veterans that VA’s attention to their needs also helps “Make us feel comfortable and like we have a community.”
Women Veterans are a diverse group – professionals, mothers, retirees – of varying ages, racial, ethnic, gender identities, and sexual orientation. No matter how you identify, your women’s health care team is here to help you stay well in all stages of life.
A safe space for women
VA is committed to providing high-quality care to women Veterans and being a safe and welcoming space. Each VA medical center has a Women Veterans Program Manager to help coordinate the care and services you need. The Women Veterans Call Center can help you connect with the women’s clinic at your local facility.
Many women Veterans are hesitant to enroll in VA health care. Grey shared those concerns in the past but turned to VA when she needed a safe space with providers who understand the unique needs and experiences of women Veterans. She now encourages other women Veterans to do the same.
“Having that safe space of the women’s clinic is cool because I just walk right in. I know I’m surrounded by women and I feel so safe,” Grey said. The clinic allows her to receive all her care from providers she trusts in a space just for her. “I felt comfortable in that space. Immediately I was given my own team. I have my own primary care physician that’s in the woman’s health clinic and my own psychologist.”
Able to create her “new normal”
VA provides specialized treatment, including single-gender counseling groups, for survivors of military sexual trauma (MST). Grey experienced MST at the hands of her ex-partner. Her military career suffered along with her mental health as his career excelled. Once she arrived at VA, her primary care provider referred her to a counseling group where she learned ways to cope with her trauma and create her “new normal.”
“Working in our group, being amongst other women Veterans, sharing our stories, and connecting… that changed the whole trajectory of my life,” Grey said.
Through counseling, she got “unstuck” from her trauma and progressed in her education and career. “VA is my community,” she added.
Through her experiences with VA care, she offers some advice to her fellow women Veterans: “Don’t be afraid to really pinpoint and ask for what you want. Reach out to your primary care provider, and most importantly, sign up for the women’s health clinic and take advantage of the specialty care.”
Interested in learning more and enrolling in VA health care? Visit www.choose.va.gov/health for more information and apply today.
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I have been a VA patient since 2000. I was a pay-as-I-go patient (a veteran but not retired & with no rating.) My intake physical was handled by the new (at the time) “Women’s Clinic”.
Based upon that 1 exposure, I opted for Primary Care 3 & stayed there even after I got my Rating in 2014 – I liked my doctors.
During covid, my doctor retired & I was moved to PC1. My doctor is fantastic. I have had 2 hip replacements – with fantastic care thru the whole process.
I have friends who are die- hard supporters of the Women’s Clinic at my VA – they are all extremely happy with their care.
Personality matters – hopefully they will never force us into the care “they” deem appropriate.
Women’s Services should be an option on va.gov when self scheduling. If you select primary care and are female, you are not informed about, nor are you routed to the nearest WC. This led me to not even know about our wonderful – local WC in Memphis until I worked at that VA.
Sounds good on paper. I was (I hope) instrumental in getting a women’s’ clinic established at my VA hospital. Other women veterans needed it. These days I’m lucky if I can get in to the women’s clinic to be seen by my PCP. If something is amiss she usually tells me “if it gets any worse go to the nearest ED”. So, now I’m a female vet adrift at VA. I supposedly have a team of providers but most of them are in all the separate clinics, not all in one place as this article would have everyone believe.