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(07/02/2025) VA researchers from San Francisco and Washington, D.C., learned Gulf War-era Women Veterans with traumatic experiences or environmental exposures during their service were more likely to experience early menopause. The researchers followed nearly 700 Women Veterans who completed a baseline assessment and a follow-up 17 years later. Those with PTSD had a nearly two-and-a-half times higher risk of early menopause, while those with a hazardous environmental exposure had 83% higher odds of early menopause. Menopause is considered early when the process begins before age 45 and is related to the early loss of protective estrogen and other reproductive hormones. It is associated with premature mortality, poor bone health, and a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease and depression. The results suggest a need for menopause care in VA to include considerations of PTSD and chronic conditions such as Gulf War illness. (Women's Health Issues, Jun. 19, 2025)