Brown Jill, Shvartsman Katerina, Bulaklak Jezreelyn, Witkop Catherine, Lutgendorf Monica
Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, the School of Medicine, and the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland.
Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Mar 1;145(3):247-252. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005801. Epub 2024 Dec 5.
The menopause transition represents a significant life phase for people assigned female at birth marked by various physical and psychological changes. For military service members and veterans, this transition can be even more complex because of unique factors related to military service. A tradition of excluding women from service before reaching the age of the menopause transition has left the Military Health System unprepared to address the specific health needs of this population. The lack of attention to menopause needs of military service members is evidenced by the absence of menopause-related research in the active-duty population and a dearth of menopause-specific research in the veteran population. White House Executive Order 14120 on Advancing Women's Health Research and Innovation has highlighted the urgent need for focused research and improved health care delivery tailored to the menopause needs of military individuals and veterans. By addressing these gaps, we can better support the health and well-being of military service members in the menopause transition, ultimately improving operational readiness and retention. Because military service members and veterans often rely on the private sector for health care, it is incumbent on all health care professionals and systems to consider their unique health care needs related to midlife and menopause.
绝经过渡对出生时被认定为女性的人来说是一个重要的生命阶段，其特点是各种生理和心理变化。对于军人和退伍军人而言，由于与军事服务相关的独特因素，这一过渡可能会更加复杂。在达到绝经过渡年龄之前将女性排除在服役之外的传统，使得军事卫生系统没有准备好应对这一人群的特定健康需求。现役人群中缺乏与绝经相关的研究，退伍军人中缺乏针对绝经的专门研究，这证明了对军人绝经需求的忽视。白宫关于推进女性健康研究与创新的第14120号行政命令强调了迫切需要开展针对性研究，并改善针对军人和退伍军人绝经需求的医疗服务。通过填补这些空白，我们可以更好地支持处于绝经过渡阶段的军人的健康和福祉，最终提高作战准备状态和留用率。由于军人和退伍军人通常依靠私营部门提供医疗保健，所有医疗保健专业人员和系统都有责任考虑他们与中年和绝经相关的独特医疗保健需求。
