Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

Spotlight on Women's Health

Department of Defense Birth and Infant Health Research Program: An Overview


by Ava Marie Conlin, DO, MPH ; Jodie Katon, PhD, MS ; CAPT Monica Lutgendorf, MC USN, MD, FACOG ; Discussant: Elizabeth Patton, MD, MPhil, MSc, FACOG ; Celeste Romano, MS
Seminar date: 3/28/2023

Description: As more women serve in the military, and in increasingly diverse roles, reproductive health surveillance and research is of paramount importance to ensure optimal outcomes. Over nearly a quarter century, the Department of Defense (DoD) Birth and Infant Health Research (BIHR) program has developed scientifically rigorous methods to conduct numerous studies focused on the more than 2.6 million infants born to military beneficiaries, with more recent assessments of maternal and pregnancy outcomes among active duty women. Recent projects include PTSD in pregnancy, severe maternal morbidity, maternal deaths, and specific deployment-related exposures; but much work remains, introducing the potential for collaborative VA efforts in order to expand BIHR’s work beyond the military service years.

Target audience: Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs women’s health researchers and healthcare providers, as well as the military and veteran women and families served

View archived session video:



DOWNLOAD: PDF handout | Audio only (mp3) | transcript


Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.