Women veterans, service members and their families can join a statewide online conversation Oct. 20 about reproductive health, menopause and finding care and benefits.
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services said its virtual program, “Her Service, Her Health: From Menstruation to Menopause,” will run from 1 to 2 in the afternoon.
The discussion will cover menstrual and reproductive health, including difficulty obtaining menstrual products; perimenopause and menopause; health care and benefits; financial support; caregiver support; and mental wellness. The agency said a woman veteran, a women’s health expert, a community advocate and a resource navigator will bring different perspectives to the conversation. It issued the invitation Monday and said participants should leave with a clearer understanding of available resources and questions to raise when seeking support.
Lessie Branch, the department’s special assistant for community engagement and a Navy veteran, will moderate. Branch said the goal is for participants to leave with a clearer idea of what resources exist, how to find them and what questions to ask about their health.
Why the agency is focusing on menopause
Nearly half of women veterans who receive care from the Veterans Health Administration are ages 45 to 64, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report on VA menopause care. The report describes that as the age range most likely to experience menopause. That figure concerns women veterans served by the federal health system, not all women veterans in New York.
The U.S. Office on Women’s Health says perimenopause, the transition leading up to menopause, can last two to eight years. The state agency cited that span to explain why it wants to connect veterans with information before and during the transition.
Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana DeCohen, a Marine Corps veteran, said health concerns should not be treated as too uncomfortable to discuss. The agency said the session is also meant to help participants understand where to turn for care, benefits and other support.
How to take part
Women veterans, current service members, family members and people who support them are invited. Participants can register for the Oct. 20 Webex program through the link provided by the department.
The department also offers appointments, in person or virtually, with accredited veterans benefits advisers. Its benefits line is 888-838-7697, and information is available at veterans.ny.gov.
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