BOOTS TO WELLNESS, Women Veterans Healthcare Research Exchange: Reproductive Care Access
Boots to Wellness, scheduled for May 13, 2026, 10 a.m.—12 p.m. EDT (in person at the Crescenz VAMC LVA Auditorium and online over WebEx), will focus on Veteran Women’s healthcare research at VA and the importance of Veteran voices in VA research. Following brief presentations from Veterans, VA researchers and others about Women Veterans’ health, Veterans ask questions that are important to them and learn about upcoming active research studies.
To attend online: Click here.To attend in person, join us on May 13, 2026 at 10am-12pm in the LVA Auditorium at Crescenz VAMC.
Supporting Choice and Readiness: Contraception Access for Women Veterans
Women Veterans are a growing and vital part of the Veteran community, representing diverse ages, life stages, and health care needs. As more women turn to the VA for comprehensive care, access to safe, affordable, and timely contraception remains an essential component of whole-person health. In 2026, ensuring that women Veterans can make informed decisions about their reproductive health is not only a clinical priority—it’s a readiness, wellness, and quality-of-life issue.
As members of the Veterans Community Advisory Board, we recognize the importance of awareness, access, and community support in helping women Veterans navigate their options.
Reliable access to contraception supports physical health, mental well-being, financial stability, and family planning goals. For many women Veterans, life after service includes transitions such as starting a new career, pursuing education, managing service-connected health conditions, or caring for family members. The ability to plan if and when to become pregnant allows women to align their reproductive choices with their personal, medical, and professional priorities.
Women Veterans may also face higher rates of certain health conditions—such as PTSD, chronic pain, or traumatic brain injury—that require careful medication management. Some treatments carry risks during pregnancy, making effective contraception a key part of safe, coordinated care.
Addressing Unique Needs of Women Veterans
Younger Veterans, combat Veterans, midlife Veterans, and those approaching menopause may each have different contraceptive considerations. For some, contraception is about pregnancy prevention; for others, it helps manage heavy bleeding, endometriosis, or hormonal symptoms. The VA’s approach recognizes contraception as both preventive and therapeutic care.
When women Veterans understand what the VA offers, they are more likely to seek preventive care—reducing future health risks and improving long-term outcomes. If a desired service is not available locally, VA staff can help arrange community care when eligible.
Comprehensive Options
The VA continues to research this issue and to expand and strengthen reproductive health services for women. In 2026, women Veterans enrolled in VA health care can access a full range of contraceptive options, including oral contraceptive pills; contraceptive patches and vaginal rings; injectable contraception; long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and contraceptive implants; emergency contraception; and sterilization counseling and procedures when appropriate.
These services are typically available with low or no out-of-pocket cost, depending on eligibility and service connection status. Importantly, VA providers offer counseling that is patient-centered, confidential, and focused on informed choice—ensuring each Veteran’s preferences, health history, and life goals guide the decision.
The VA also offers telehealth consultations for contraceptive counseling and prescription management; mail-order pharmacy services for routine birth control refills; same-day access at many VA women’s health clinics; and community care referrals when specialized services are not available locally.
Many VA facilities also offer Women’s Health Primary Care Providers, allowing Veterans to receive comprehensive care—including reproductive health—through a single, coordinated team.
Access to contraception is about more than a prescription—it’s about autonomy, health, and the ability to plan for the future with confidence. As the population of women Veterans continues to grow, maintaining strong, accessible reproductive health services will remain a critical part of the VA’s commitment to whole-person care.
Women Veterans served our nation with dedication and strength. In return, they deserve health care that supports their choices, respects their experiences, and meets them wherever they are in life. By working together—VA providers, community partners, and fellow Veterans—we can ensure that every woman Veteran has the information, access, and support she needs to make the best decisions for her health and her future.
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Veterans can shape the direction of VA research and policy initiatives for years to come. It’s about the present moment, and building a brighter and healthier future for all Veterans.
So make a plan to attend, bring your questions on May 13, 2026, to the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VAMC, (3900 Woodland Ave, LVA Auditorium; or online with WebEx), and let's work together towards a future where every Veteran receives the care and support they deserve.
CHERP’s Veterans Community Advisory Board
The Veterans Community Advisory Board is made up of Veterans, like you, and they are working hard to promote holistic Veteran healthcare. This starts with spreading awareness among Veterans and researchers of the health equity issues that affect Veteran health and how to address them in the VA health system. “The voice of Veterans is often lost in research,” former VCAB Chair, Chuck Maxwell noted. “As a result, solutions developed may not meet the needs of patients. Patients and the public have come to feel disconnected from the goals of research.” With this in mind, the VCAB, in partnership with CHERP, PREF and the Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, present the Veterans Healthcare Research Forum, Boots to Wellness: Women Veterans Healthcare Research Exchange, May 13, 2026, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT.
Get Involved! Veteran voices shaping research!
If you want to engage with Veterans about VA Research and identify with the CHERP VCAB’s mission, “To advise, foster relationships, and contribute experience and input to CHERP Leadership and Researchers in order to promote health, healthcare, and health equity for the Veteran Community,” the Veterans Community Advisory Board in Philadelphia would love to have you as a member! Contact CHERPVCAB@gmail.com today!