Incidence and burden of gynecologic disorders, active component service women, U.S. Armed Forces, 2012-2016

This report describes the incidence, burden, and co-occurrence of four common gynecologic disorders among active component service women during 2012-2016. Overall incidence rates were highest for menorrhagia (100.9 per 10,000 person-years [p-yrs]), followed by uterine fibroids (63.2 per 10,000 p-yrs), endometriosis (30.8 per 10,000 p-yrs), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, 25.3 per 10,000 p-yrs). Annual incidence rates and medical encounters for menorrhagia decreased by roughly 50% from 2012 through 2015, and then increased slightly in 2016. Annual incidence rates of PCOS decreased modestly between 2012 and 2016, whereas rates for endometriosis and uterine fibroids remained relatively stable. Service women in the Army, older service women, and non-Hispanic black service women had overall higher rates of menorrhagia, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis. Incidence of PCOS was highest among women aged 25-29 years, non-Hispanic black service women, and service women in the Air Force. Approximately one-quarter (25.6%) of women with incident endometriosis, one-third (33.6%) of women with incident uterine fibroids, and 7% of women with PCOS had a co-occurring incident diagnosis for menorrhagia during the surveillance period. Additional research focused on the severity of these conditions would allow for a fuller examination of the impact of these disorders on the readiness of the force and on healthcare utilization.