The impact of the war in Ukraine on the reproductive health of female military personnel

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo explore the link between mental health, physical well‐being, and reproductive system pathology in females who suffered war‐related concussions.MethodsA study was conducted at the Kyiv Center of Reproductive and Perinatal Medicine with 715 participants. The group included 457 female military personnel with concussions (211 with post‐concussive syndrome (PCS), 246 without), 208 women from occupied/deoccupied areas (103 with PCS, 105 without), and 50 civilians from safe zones. Average deployment time (mean ± standard deviation) was 60.26 ± 42.21 months, and trauma occurred 18.81 ± 9.221 months ago. Medical history and physical examinations were performed.ResultsFemale soldiers with PCS had a 1.3 times higher likelihood (P < 0.015) of experiencing longer menstrual periods. Painful menstruation was 1.47 times more frequent (P < 0.001), and heavy periods were 1.64 times more common (P < 0.003). Infertility duration in concussed women was 5.36 ± 0.13 years, whereas those with PCS experienced 1.29 times longer duration (6.02 ± 0.21 years) (P < 0.001) compared with women without PCS (4.69 ± 0.13 years). Among concussed soldiers, 69.27% had endometrial structural pathology, with PCS occurring 1.64 times more often (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe health decline in female veterans and active‐duty personnel extends beyond medical implications and has social significance. The well‐being of these Ukrainian women affects the country's defense, demographic patterns, socio‐political landscape, and social stability.