Unseen Burden: Pelvic Health in Australian Female Soldiers

Endometriosis, pelvic pain, and gynecological conditions are common among Australian servicewomen, new study finds.

Key Points

Highlights: 

• Pelvic health problems are common among female military personnel in Australia: 
• Reported issues include sexual dysfunction, endometriosis, pelvic pain, and menstrual irregularities.

Importance:

• Addressing pelvic health in female service members is essential for improving well-being, operational readiness, and gender-responsive military healthcare.

What’s done here:

• An online, anonymous survey was conducted with 491 Australian Defence Force servicewomen to assess the prevalence and types of pelvic health issues.
• Responses from participants were analyzed to assess the prevalence, types, and coexistence of pelvic health issues.

Key results:

• The majority (71%) of the responders reported pelvic health concerns. 
• The most common ones are sexual dysfunction (41%), gynecological surgery (34%), manipulation of the menstrual cycle (32%), frequent pelvic pain(20%), endometriosis (18%), irregular periods (17%), pelvic organ prolapse( 12%), pelvic injury (10%), and fecal incontinence (2%). 
• Almost a quarter of respondents reported more than one pelvic health issue.

Strengths and Limitations:

• Strength: First study to systematically explore a broad range of pelvic health issues in Australian servicewomen.
• Limitations are self reported data (may introduce reporting bias), participation was voluntary, potentially leading to selection bias.

From the Editor-in-Chief – EndoNews 

"This study sheds light on the high burden of pelvic health issues among female military personnel—a group often overlooked in gynecologic research. The high prevalence of endometriosis, pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction, often co-occurring, highlights the urgent need for targeted healthcare strategies in military environments.

The authors make a strong case for sex-specific medical frameworks to address conditions that may silently affect performance and readiness. As endometriosis and related disorders gain recognition for their systemic impact, studies like this are crucial in bridging clinical insight with occupational health in high-demand settings."

Lay Summary

A new study published in Women & Health reveals that pelvic health concerns—beyond lower urinary tract symptoms—are highly prevalent among Australian female military personnel. Conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction were commonly reported.

The implementation of sex-responsive health services within military organizations could help overcome potential issues and increase the well-being of the personnel as well as improve their operational readiness and the outcome of operations.

To investigate these issues, Dr. Robin Orr and colleagues from Bond University conducted an online survey of 491 women who had served at least six months in the Australian Defence Force. Among the respondents, 71% reported at least one pelvic health problem, and 24% experienced multiple, coexisting conditions. Common concerns included sexual dysfunction (41%), gynecological surgery (34%), menstrual manipulation (32%), pelvic pain (20%), and endometriosis (18%).

While the study did not directly assess the impact of these issues on work performance, the findings underscore the importance of integrating sex-responsive healthcare services within military settings. The authors suggest that such measures could enhance overall well-being, operational readiness, and mission success for female service members.

Research Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40302686/