Voluntary and involuntary childlessness in female veterans: associations with sexual assault

Ginny L Ryan; Michelle A Mengeling; Brenda M Booth; James C Torner; Craig H Syrop; Anne G Sadler

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.04.042

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Voluntary and involuntary childlessness in female veterans: associations with sexual assault

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Voluntary and involuntary childlessness in female veterans: associations with sexual assault

Ginny L Ryan, Michelle A Mengeling, Brenda M Booth, James C Torner, Craig H Syrop and Anne G Sadler

Fertility and Sterility, Vol.102(2), pp.539-547

08/2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.04.042

PMID: 24875400

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Abstract

To assess associations between lifetime sexual assault and childlessness in female veterans. Cross-sectional, computer-assisted telephone interview study. Two Midwestern Veterans Administration (VA) medical centers. A total of 1,004 women aged ≤52 years, VA-enrolled between 2000 and 2008. None. Sociodemographic variables, reproductive history and care utilization, and mental health. A total of 620 veterans (62%) reported at least one attempted or completed sexual assault in their lifetime (LSA). Veterans with LSA more often self-reported a history of pregnancy termination (31% vs. 19%) and infertility (23% vs. 12%), as well as sexually transmitted infection (42% vs. 27%), posttraumatic stress disorder (32% vs. 10%), and postpartum dysphoria (62% vs. 44%). Lifetime sexual assault was independently associated with termination and infertility in multivariate models; sexually transmitted infection, posttraumatic stress disorder, and postpartum dysphoria were not. The LSA by period of life was as follows: 41% of participants in childhood, 15% in adulthood before the military, 33% in military, and 13% after the military (not mutually exclusive). Among the 511 who experienced a completed LSA, 23% self-reported delaying or foregoing pregnancy because of their assault. This study demonstrated associations between sexual assault history and pregnancy termination, delay or avoidance (voluntary childlessness), and infertility (involuntary childlessness) among female veterans. Improved gender-specific veteran medical care must attend to these reproductive complexities.

Female veterans

infertility

sexual assault

childbearing

Details

Title: Subtitle: Voluntary and involuntary childlessness in female veterans: associations with sexual assault
Creators: Ginny L Ryan - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Michelle A Mengeling - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Brenda M Booth - Center for Mental Healthcare Outcomes and Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, Arkansas
James C Torner - Department of Neurosurgery and Surgery, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Craig H Syrop - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Anne G Sadler - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Fertility and Sterility, Vol.102(2), pp.539-547
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.04.042
PMID: 24875400
NLM abbreviation: Fertil Steril
ISSN: 0015-0282
eISSN: 1556-5653
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
Grant note: K12-NIH-HD063117 / Women's Reproductive Health Research NRI 04-194-1 / Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research and Development
Language: English
Date published: 08/2014
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Epidemiology; Surgery; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Injury Prevention Research Center; Neurosurgery; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983931742602771

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