Reproductive health care you can trust

Reproductive health care is an essential part of your well-being throughout your life. VA provides reproductive health care that you can trust, which includes services like Pap tests, birth control, pre-pregnancy care, maternity support, mammograms, and help with menopausal symptoms.

One important aspect of reproductive health is being able to decide if, when and how often to have children. You may have delayed having children until after your release or discharge from active military duty. VA providers will work with you to help you meet your family planning goals.

You have choices at VA

VA offers a range of reproductive health services so you can get the care you need and deserve in a welcoming, respectful environment. You can choose the gender of your health care provider and the gender of any provider referrals. VA provides chaperones for sensitive exams (like pelvic exams), but you can choose to have a chaperone for any exam.

VA also offers you options in your reproductive health care, including options regarding pregnancies. VA also has several different birth control options available.

Pre-pregnancy care at VA

If you are trying to get pregnant, tell your health care provider. They can help you manage chronic conditions like high blood pressure, and help you with any stress or mental health concerns like anxiety or depression. They will also recommend immunizations and look at your prescription list, so they can review with you the risks and benefits of certain medications. They can connect you with resources to support your home life, and address concerns such as housing instability or intimate partner violence.

If you are having trouble becoming pregnant, VA offers fertility and family building services. This care may include fertility evaluation, management and treatment.

Care coordination and coverage for your whole pregnancy

VA offers maternity care benefits that include all your regular prenatal care, such as exams, lab tests, medications and ultrasounds. VA covers labor and delivery, and even initial care for the newborn.

If you plan to breastfeed/chest feed or pump, VA covers support for lactation, including items like lactation pads, breast pumps and nursing bras.

Your maternity care is covered by VA, but usually provided in non-VA facilities. You will be assigned to a maternity care coordinator to support your care and help you set up appointments inside and outside of VA, for your whole pregnancy through 12 months post-partum.

Pregnancy options for your health and life

More than 600,000 women use VA health care. Over half of these women are in the child-bearing age range, which makes reproductive health services at VA particularly important.

Veterans are at greater risk of experiencing pregnancy-related complications due to increased rates of chronic health conditions. They also are more likely to get diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy than non-Veterans. These conditions, and other pregnancy complications, can endanger the health or life of pregnant Veterans.

Recognizing this, VA offers pregnancy options counseling, which includes abortion counseling—and in certain circumstances, abortions.

VA providers offer you accurate, unbiased information about pregnancies

Pregnancy options counseling is an unbiased, neutral conversation between you and your health care provider to help you make fully informed decisions. Your provider will explain your options as clearly as possible. You make the ultimate decision on what is best for you.

Abortions are available through VA if the life or the health of the pregnant Veteran would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term, or if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest. Under VA’s federal authority, pregnancy options counseling (including abortion counseling) and in certain circumstances, abortions, can be provided by VA in any state, regardless of any state-level restrictions on such care. States may not interfere with this care for Veterans.

Additional ways to learn more about reproductive health care services offered through VA:

• Reproductive Health Services Brochure: A brochure that can be printed describing available reproductive health and gynecologic services available at VA.
• Podcast: Reproductive Health Services in VA: She Wears the Boots Podcast featuring Dr. Amanda Johnson, who discusses reproductive health services offered at VA, including recent changes that now allow Veterans to receive pregnancy options counseling and abortions.

How can I access care?

If you do not already have a VA primary care provider, you can call your nearest VA medical center and ask for the Women Veterans Program Manager (WVPM). The WVPM can help coordinate the services you may need.

If you have not yet enrolled in VA health care, call or text the Women Veterans Call Center at 855-829-6636. WVCC representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. If you call after hours, they will return your call the next day they are open. For more information you can download a handout on eligibility or visit the VA Women Veterans Health Care website.