Female Reproductive Health in Canadian Armed Forces
BEARH2025
1 other identifier
observational
1,121
1 country
1
Brief Summary
This is a mixed-method study aimed at gathering new evidence on reproductive health among female service members in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Reproductive health includes four primary domains: contraception; undesired reproductive outcomes (including unintended pregnancy, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and infertility); assisted reproductive care; and pelvic floor dysfunctions. Additional factors that may influence reproductive outcomes will also be explored, including gynecological health (including but not limited to menstrual health, menopause, breast injury, sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections) as well as physical and psychological health (including but not limited to repetitive strain injuries, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder). Evidence gathered on reproductive health issues will include, but not limited to, the lived experiences (occurrence), associated risk factors, access to care, including barriers and facilitators, service utilization, and career-related impacts among actively serving members and Veterans of the CAF. These will inform the development of recommendations and support services aimed at improving reproductive health care within the CAF. This project is divided into 3 convergent parts: Part 1: An online pan-Canadian survey that will achieve a minimum total sample of 1067 participants. Part 2: Semi-structured individual interviews (open-ended questions) will be conducted with female CAF members and Veterans who have experienced at least one reproductive health issues. A total of 30 participants are estimated to be required to achieve data saturation across the four primary domains. Part 3: Semi-structured group discussion (open-ended questions) will be conducted with healthcare providers, who have experience with treating female reproductive health issues in CAF members, as well as stakeholders and policymakers involved in supporting female members of the CAF/Veterans. A total of 24 healthcare providers/stakeholders/policymakers will form 3 group discussion (8 participants/group). For all 3 parts, efforts in recruitment will be made to ensure representation across CAF elements, minority groups, and native language (French and English).
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for all trials
Started Apr 2026
Shorter than P25 for all trials
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
April 1, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
April 13, 2026
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
April 15, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
December 15, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 15, 2026
April 13, 2026
April 1, 2026
8 months
April 1, 2026
April 8, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (8)
Occurrence of female reproductive health issues
Assessed using a self-administered, pan-Canadian online questionnaire with multiple-choice response options
Baseline
Lived experiences of female reproductive health issues
Assessed using semi-structured individual interviews with open-ended questions
Baseline
Risk factors of reproductive health issues
Assessed using a self-administered, pan-Canadian online questionnaire with multiple-choice response options and semi-structured individual interviews with open-ended questions
Baseline
Barriers to access to care for reproductive health issues
Assessed using a self-administered, pan-Canadian online questionnaire with multiple-choice response options and semi-structured individual interviews with open-ended questions and group discussion (open-ended questions) with healthcare providers, stakeholders and policymakers
Baseline
Facilitators to access to care for reproductive health issues
Assessed using a self-administered, pan-Canadian online questionnaire with multiple-choice response options and semi-structured individual interviews with open-ended questions and group discussion (open-ended questions) with healthcare providers, stakeholders and policymakers
Baseline
Service utilization for reproductive health issues
Assessed using a self-administered, pan-Canadian online questionnaire with multiple-choice response options and semi-structured individual interviews with open-ended questions and group discussion (open-ended questions) with healthcare providers, stakeholders and policymakers
Baseline
Career-related impact of reproductive health issues of female serving in the CAF
Assessed using a self-administered, pan-Canadian online questionnaire with multiple-choice response options and semi-structured individual interviews with open-ended questions
Baseline
Recommendations and support services for improving female reproductive care within the CAF
Assessed using a self-administered, pan-Canadian online questionnaire with multiple-choice response options and semi-structured individual interviews with open-ended questions and group discussion (open-ended questions) with healthcare providers, stakeholders and policymakers
Baseline
Eligibility Criteria
All female individuals serving in the CAF and Veterans will be included in part 1. Part 2 will include female individuals having experienced a reproductive health issue while serving in the CAF. Part 3 will include clinicians, stakeholders and policymakers who care for or support reproductive health of female CAF members (active duty and Veterans).
You may qualify if:
- Female (biological sex)
- Aged at least 18 years old
- Completed Basic Military Qualification (including Regular Forces, Reserve Forces (Class A, B, or C), Canadian Rangers, COATS instructors, and survivors of the LGBT Purge whose official records of service have been changed to reflect the nature of their discharge)
- Female (biological sex)
- Aged at least 18 years old
- Completed Basic Military Qualification (including Regular Forces, Reserve Forces (Class A, B, or C), Canadian Rangers, COATS instructors, and survivors of the LGBT Purge whose official records of service have been changed to reflect the nature of their discharge)
- Have experienced a reproductive health issue while serving in the CAF
- Healthcare providers (CAF Health Services, public servant, civilian) who has treated female patients who are actively serving and/or Veterans of the CAF in the past 5 years.
- Stakeholders who are involved in supporting reproductive health of female members of the CAF and/or Veterans.
- Policymakers who are involved in supporting reproductive health of female members of the CAF and/or Veterans.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Université de Sherbrookelead
- Veterans Affairs Canadacollaborator
- Canadian Armed Forcescollaborator
Study Sites (1)
Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
Related Links
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Mélanie Morin, PhD
PT, PhD, Full professor, Researcher, Director of the Pelvic Health Research Laboratory, Canada Research Chair in Women's pelvic health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke and Research Centre of the CHUS
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- observational
- Observational Model
- COHORT
- Time Perspective
- PROSPECTIVE
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- PT, PhD, Full professor, Researcher, Director of the Pelvic Health Research Laboratory, Canada Research Chair in Women's pelvic health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke and Research Centre of the CHUS
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
April 1, 2026
First Posted
April 13, 2026
Study Start
April 15, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
December 15, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
December 15, 2026
Last Updated
April 13, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-04
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share
Due to the nature of the participant population (active-duty military personnel and Veterans) and confidential information, individual data will not be shared. Only deanonymized and aggregated data will be shared with the scientific population and/or other organizations, upon request.