Special Considerations for Military Personnel, Veterans, and First Responders

Active-duty and Veteran military service members as well as First Responders are at a higher risk of trauma exposure and the development of PTSD than the general population. Due to stigma and career concerns, it is not uncommon for military personnel and First Responders to not disclose their history of trauma and/or their mental health symptoms. Additionally, healthcare professionals may under assess for a history of current or past trauma or PTSD and may further be unaware of a patient’s occupation or service history. Even if healthcare professionals are aware of a patient’s military service or work as a First Responder, they may falsely assume based on stereotypes that these patients do not need or desire trauma-informed care. However, trauma-informed medical care is vital for this group of individuals given their risk of active trauma symptoms and the additional risk of re-traumatization during receipt of medical care. Considering military personnel and First Responders’ increased likelihood of experiencing physical and sexual traumas, trauma-informed medical care is particularly important during receipt of fertility treatment (including pre-deployment gamete cryo preservation and counseling related to posthumous reproduction) given the personal and sensitive nature of such care.