THE FUSE

Military service is one of the nation’s most rewarding yet consequential careers, offering purpose and honor while exposing those who serve to profound and lasting health risks. For women, these perils are often amplified by biological differences as well as occupational exposures and other factors—thereby creating distinct medical challenges that require tailored attention. Mounting medical research has revealed that males and females differ significantly in brain structure, including how their illnesses and symptoms manifest and how their treatments work. Women, in particular, can be more susceptible to specific life-altering ailments as protective hormones such as estrogen decline with age. And this reality even takes on greater significance considering the steadily surging number of these individuals in the armed forces.