Women Veterans Resources

Women veterans represent one of the most rapidly expanding groups within the veteran population. In 2024, VA saw a record enrollment year with over 53,000 new women veteran enrollees — a 20% increase. About 930,000 women veterans are currently enrolled in VA health care, and roughly 650,000 actively use VA medical services.

Every VA Medical Center (VAMC) in the country has a designated Women Veteran Program Manager (WVPM) who serves as your primary point of contact. WVPMs help women veterans access benefits, coordinate services, and connect you with appropriate resources. You can locate your nearest WVPM through the VA's online locator tool.

The Center for Women Veterans (CWV), established in 1994, advocates for improved outcomes and access to VA benefits, services, and opportunities for women veterans through education, outreach, and collaboration. Women Veterans Recognition Day is celebrated annually on June 12, commemorating the anniversary of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948.

Women Veterans by the Numbers

VA provides comprehensive health care services for women veterans at every VA Medical Center. The VA Office of Women's Health oversees national policy and operations. Women's Health Primary Care Providers (WH-PCP) deliver both primary care and women-specific health care, managing general medical needs and coordinating referrals to specialty services. For more on VA health care enrollment and eligibility, see our Healthcare page.

Gender-Specific Preventive Care & Cancer Screenings

• Mammography/Breast cancer: Yearly mammograms starting at age 40, per USPSTF guidelines. Expanded screenings for veterans with toxic exposure history.
• Cervical cancer: Pap tests beginning at age 21, with varying intervals based on test type.
• Colon cancer: Screening initiated at age 45 for average-risk individuals.
• Lung cancer: Low-dose CT scans for qualifying former smokers at age 50.
• Osteoporosis: Bone density screening as appropriate.

General Health Screenings & Immunizations

• Blood pressure, cholesterol, anemia, diabetes screening
• Hepatitis C, HIV, STI testing
• COVID-19, influenza, pneumonia, shingles, HPV, tetanus, and RSV vaccines

Specialized Services

• Gynecology care: Full gynecological services including annual exams
• Mental health & PTSD treatment: Integrated mental health services
• Chronic pain management: Multidisciplinary approaches
• Substance use treatment: Evidence-based programs
• Whole Health program: Complementary therapies including yoga, acupuncture, and meditation
• Caregiver support: Programs for veterans who are caregivers

Learn more at the VA Women's Health website.

Enrolled women veterans receive comprehensive maternity care from the positive pregnancy test through postpartum care. VA covers and coordinates maternity care, including care provided at non-VA facilities. Every VA facility assigns a Maternity Care Coordinator (MCC) who helps navigate services. As of October 2024, access to MCCs was expanded from the beginning of pregnancy through 12 months postpartum (previously 8 weeks).

What Maternity Care Covers

• Full physical exams and lab tests
• Prenatal education, ultrasounds, and genetic testing
• Prescription medications
• Labor and delivery
• Nursing supplies (nursing bras, breast pumps, maternity belts — request through coordinator at least two weeks before delivery)
• Social work and mental health services (standard component of maternity care)
• Postpartum depression screening and treatment
• Support and services in case of miscarriage or stillbirth
• Pelvic health care after delivery
• Lactation assistance and supplies (lactation pads, milk storage bags, nipple cream)

Newborn Care

VA covers care for newborns for 7 days after birth (delivery date plus 6 additional days). This is available for eligible women veterans receiving VA maternity care. Extended infant care beyond the initial 7-day period is not covered by VA.

Fertility Services

All enrolled veterans qualify for fertility evaluation and treatment regardless of service connection or relationship status, including hormonal therapies, surgical interventions, and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

IVF and assisted reproductive technology (ART) are available for veterans with a VBA-adjudicated service-connected disability that is causally related to their infertility. Marital status is not a factor — VA expanded IVF to include unmarried veterans and veterans in same-sex marriages in 2024.

• Up to 6 attempts to create embryos
• Up to 3 completed embryo transfer cycles (lifetime benefit)
• Cryopreservation and storage covered until the veteran's death
• Veterans may use donor eggs, sperm, or embryos (but VA does not cover donor acquisition costs)

Other Reproductive Health

• Contraception: All enrolled veterans have access to contraceptive services
• Menopause care: Available through VA primary care
• Fertility preservation: Covered if medically necessary treatment (such as chemotherapy) could impair reproduction — storage covered for up to 10 years
• Adoption reimbursement: Up to $2,000 per adopted child under age 18 (max $5,000 annually) for veterans eligible for IVF/ART benefits

Learn more at the VA Maternity Care page and the VA Fertility Services page.

VA defines Military Sexual Trauma (MST) as sexual assault or sexual harassment experienced during military service. MST-related care at VA is free and confidential, regardless of when the trauma occurred. You do not need a service-connected disability rating, VA enrollment, or copay to receive MST-related care.

MST Prevalence

• Approximately 38% of women veterans report experiences of MST
• When screened by VA providers: about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 50 men respond "yes" to MST screening
• Women with MST histories are 9 times more likely to develop PTSD
• Of women veterans served in FY 2024, about 24% were diagnosed with PTSD

MST-Related Care at VA

• Every VA health care facility has an MST Coordinator
• PTSD treatment — the most common mental health condition associated with MST
• Treatment for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders
• Women-specific PTSD programs available at many VA facilities
• Vet Centers also provide readjustment counseling for MST — see our Vet Centers page

MST Tools & Resources

• Beyond MST Mobile App: Free, secure, private self-help app with 30+ tools — no account or treatment enrollment needed
• Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 (Press 1), text 838255, or chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net

For more detail on MST services, see our MST Resources page. For immediate crisis support, visit our Crisis Resources page.

Women represent 20% of veterans who have served since 9/11, and multiple federal programs specifically support women veteran employment and entrepreneurship. For our full career transition guide, visit the Career Explorer page.

DOL Veterans' Employment & Training (VETS)

• Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG): Employment and training services through state workforce agencies — research shows women who received JVSG services have a considerably smaller gender earnings gap
• Transition Assistance Program (TAP): Employment workshops for all separating service members
• HIRE Vets Medallion Program: Recognizes employers who hire and retain veterans
• USERRA protections: Reemployment rights for returning service members

Visit the DOL's Women Veterans Employment page for more details.

Entrepreneurship & Small Business

• V-WISE: Three-phase entrepreneurship program for women veterans and military spouses (online coursework, in-person residency, post-training support) — read our V-WISE guide
• SBA Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program (WVETP): Federal funding for organizations providing entrepreneurship training to women veterans
• Boots to Business: Entrepreneurship training during TAP workshops — read our Boots to Business guide
• Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs): Free business counseling and training — read our VBOC guide
• SDVOSB Program: Federal contracting preference for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses

For more small business resources, visit our Small Business page.

Women veterans are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless veteran population. In FY 2023, over 25,000 homeless women veterans were served by VHA programs. VA operates multiple programs specifically addressing women veteran homelessness, including accommodations for women veterans with children. For our full housing guide, visit the Housing page.

Key Housing Programs

Women-Specific Services

• Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program includes housing specifically designated for women veterans and women veterans with dependent children
• SSVF continues to serve a high proportion of women veterans, in part due to the greater number of households with children served with prevention assistance
• DOL Homeless Women Veterans Reintegration Program: Employment-focused grants specifically targeting homeless women veterans and veterans with children
• Specialized mental health services for homeless women veterans, including PTSD and MST treatment

Childcare During VA Appointments

The VA Kids Care Program provides free drop-in childcare at participating VA medical facilities for eligible veterans with scheduled outpatient appointments. Childcare is staffed by licensed providers and available for up to 3 hours per appointment at no cost. Not available at all VA facilities — contact your local VAMC to check availability.

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838) — available 24/7.

Connecting with other women veterans can be a powerful source of support during and after transition. Several organizations run peer support and mentoring programs specifically for women veterans.

• WoVeN (Women Veterans Network): Online and in-person groups across the country — each 8-session group builds supportive relationships between women veterans (wovenwomenvets.org)
• Women Veterans Interactive Foundation: National nonprofit with workshops, career mentoring, and trauma-informed programs (womenveteransinteractive.org)
• Grace After Fire: Coffee and Conversation and Peer-to-Peer Group programs for women veterans (graceafterfire.org)
• Foundation for Women Warriors: Southern California-based programs for resiliency and professional development (foundationforwomenwarriors.org)
• VA Caregiver Peer Support Mentoring Program: Pairs caregivers (including women veteran caregivers) with peer mentors — Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274

Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC)

The WVCC is staffed entirely by women, some of whom are veterans themselves. They can help with enrollment, eligibility questions, maternity care coordination, appointment scheduling, benefits information, and more.

• Phone: 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636)
• Text: 1-855-829-6636
• Online chat: Available through womenshealth.va.gov
• Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. ET | Saturday 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m. ET | Closed federal holidays
• Free, confidential, and available to anyone with questions about women veteran services

Crisis & Emergency

If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available right now. Visit our Crisis Resources page for a full list of hotlines and programs.

• Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 (Press 1), text 838255, or chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net
• National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838) — 24/7

Related Pages on VetAtlas

• Healthcare — VA health care enrollment, eligibility, and programs
• Crisis Resources — Hotlines, Vet Centers, and immediate help
• MST Resources — Detailed guide to Military Sexual Trauma services
• Career Explorer — MOS-to-civilian career paths and job search
• Housing — VA home loans, adapted housing, and homelessness programs
• Small Business — Boots to Business, VBOCs, certifications, and V-WISE
• Vet Centers — Readjustment counseling and community-based support

Official VA Resources

• VA Office of Women's Health
• Center for Women Veterans
• VA Programs for Homeless Women Veterans
• VA Military Sexual Trauma Resources
• DOL Women Veterans Employment