Women Veterans
Delivering total health care and providing readjustment services for women Veterans are very important to VA. If you do not know what your eligibility is for VA health care, you can call or visit your local community VA clinic or the Bay Pines VA Medical Center to get more information. There is also an online Application of Health Care Benefits (VA Form 10-10EZ) that you can complete. Upon approval of your eligibility application, you will be registered for care at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System’s Medical Center or your local clinic. You will be assigned a health care provider at Bay Pines, the Lee County VA Healthcare Center, or an Outpatient Clinic who will address your individual needs. The Women Veterans Healthcare Program focuses on:
- Wellness Education
- Preventive Health Treatment
- Disease Management
- Care for the emotional well being of Women Veterans.
The goal of the Women Veterans Healthcare Program is to offer patients quality healthcare in a concerned, compassionate and comprehensive manner throughout their life span.
Learn more about our services
Our Women Veterans Program Manager advises and advocates for women Veterans. She can help coordinate all the services you may need, from primary care to specialized care for chronic conditions or reproductive health. VA health care for women Veterans includes:
Primary Care
- General care includes health evaluation and counseling, disease prevention, nutrition counseling, weight control, smoking cessation, and substance abuse counseling and treatment as well as gender-specific primary care, such as cervical cancer screens (Pap smears), breast cancer screens (mammograms), birth control, preconception counseling, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, menopausal support (hormone replacement therapy).
- Mental health includes evaluation and assistance for issues such as depression, mood, and anxiety disorders; intimate partner and domestic violence; sexual trauma; elder abuse or neglect; parenting and anger management; marital, caregiver, or family-related stress; and post-deployment adjustment or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Women-and men as well-may experience repeated sexual harassment or sexual assault during their military service. Special services are available to women who have experienced MST. VA provides free, confidential counseling and treatment for mental and physical health conditions related to MST. More information is available about MST from the national Women Veterans Health Care program and the VHA Office of Mental Health.
Specialty Care
- Management and screening of chronic conditions includes heart disease, diabetes, cancer, glandular disorders, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia as well as sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Reproductive health care includes maternity care, infertility evaluation and limited treatment; sexual problems, tubal ligation, urinary incontinence, and others. VA is prohibited by legislative authority from providing either in-vitro fertilization or abortion services.
- Rehabilitation, homebound, and long-term care. VA referrals are given to those in need of rehabilitation therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, exercise therapy, recreational therapy, and vocational therapy. Homebound and long-term care services are available as well, limited to those meeting specific requirements.
