Ginny L Ryan1, Michelle A Mengeling2, Brenda M Booth3, James C Torner4, Craig H Syrop5, Anne G Sadler6. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa. Electronic address: Ginny-ryan@uiowa.edu. 2. Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa; VA Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Central Region, Iowa City VA Health care System, Iowa City, Iowa. 3. Center for Mental Healthcare Outcomes and Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, Arkansas; Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas. 4. Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Neurosurgery and Surgery, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa. 5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa. 6. Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between lifetime sexual assault and childlessness in female veterans. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, computer-assisted telephone interview study. SETTING: Two Midwestern Veterans Administration (VA) medical centers. PATIENT(S): A total of 1,004 women aged ≤52 years, VA-enrolled between 2000 and 2008. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sociodemographic variables, reproductive history and care utilization, and mental health. RESULT(S): 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. CONCLUSION(S): 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.
OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between lifetime sexual assault and childlessness in female veterans. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, computer-assisted telephone interview study. SETTING: Two Midwestern Veterans Administration (VA) medical centers. PATIENT(S): A total of 1,004 women aged ≤52 years, VA-enrolled between 2000 and 2008. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sociodemographic variables, reproductive history and care utilization, and mental health. RESULT(S): 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. CONCLUSION(S): 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.
Authors: Rachel P Goossen; Karen M Summers; Ginny L Ryan; Michelle A Mengeling; Brenda M Booth; James C Torner; Craig H Syrop; Anne G Sadler Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2018-11-27 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Jodie G Katon; Laurie Zephyrin; Anne Meoli; Avanthi Hulugalle; Jeane Bosch; Lisa Callegari; Ileana V Galvan; Kristen E Gray; Kristin O Haeger; Claire Hoffmire; Silvina Levis; Erica W Ma; Jennifer E Mccabe; Yael I Nillni; Suzanne L Pineles; Shivani M Reddy; David A Savitz; Jonathan G Shaw; Elizabeth W Patton Journal: Semin Reprod Med Date: 2019-04-19 Impact factor: 1.303
Authors: Tara E Galovski; Amy E Street; Suzannah Creech; Keren Lehavot; Ursula A Kelly; Elizabeth M Yano Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2022-08-30 Impact factor: 6.473
Authors: Elisheva R Danan; Erin E Krebs; Kristine Ensrud; Eva Koeller; Roderick MacDonald; Tina Velasquez; Nancy Greer; Timothy J Wilt Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2017-09-14 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Sandrine Duron; Aline Bohet; Henri Panjo; Nathalie Bajos; René Migliani; Catherine Marimoutou; Yann Le Strat; Jean Baptiste Meynard; Caroline Moreau Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2018-06-18 Impact factor: 3.295