Military women's menstrual experiences and interest in menstrual suppression during deployment.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a preliminary description of military women's menstrual experiences and their awareness of menstrual suppression during deployment.

DESIGN

Qualitative descriptive with content analysis.

SETTING

Recruitment and sampling occurred at a large U.S. military base from December 2005 to January 2006.

PARTICIPANTS

Nine women who had been deployed to U.S. military operations.

RESULTS

Seven themes were generated from the data: (a) Menses is intensified during deployment, (b) It's hard to take care of yourself during your period, (c) Menstrual challenges: heat, dirt, and port-a-potties, (d) Menstruation is an inconvenience when you are deployed, (e) Dealing with menstruation in the military world, (f) Negative aspects of menstruation outweigh the positive during deployment, and (g) Menstrual suppression.

CONCLUSION

Menstruation is problematic during deployment and participants expressed interest in menstrual suppression. However, concerns about the side effects and safety of continuous oral contraceptives limited participants' use of this therapy. Education on menstrual hygiene and methods of menstrual cycle control should be provided prior to deployment to prepare women for the experience.