Infertility

"If a specialty isn't available in-house, VA will contract out with providers in the community," said Turner, a former Air Force nurse who has more than 20 years of VA experience.

Military sexual trauma treatment also is available, including counseling and treatment for any emotional or physical condition experienced as a result of sexual trauma experienced while on active duty.

Turner said women often seek treatment for "the same kind of health conditions that men experience - diabetes, heart disease, orthopedics care, dental care." However, she added, women veterans also require certain unique health care services, such as maternity care.

There also are differences in the types of assistance services women seek from the VA.

"Women who are homeless generally come with families or children," Turner said.

VA has pilot programs for homeless women veterans with and without children at 11 medical facilities around the country.

VA also works to educate women on ways their health issues differ from men's - for instance, how heart disease manifests itself differently in women than in men.

She said VA is working with health care providers to ensure they're aware of and looking for signs and symptoms in women that they wouldn't ordinarily think are attributable to heart disease.

Turner emphasized that "all VA facilities aren't created equal." "Some are very urban...

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