Women in UK military grapple with chronic UTIs and thrush as healthcare falls short

27 Dec 2022

Salute Her – the only independent charity dedicated to supporting female veterans in the UK – helps women through difficulties that emerge while serving in the military, from persistent UTIs and thrush to dealing with incidents of sexual assault and rape.

“When women are deployed, it’s really noticeable that they have many, many challenges,” said Paula Edwards, a counsellor and expert in military mental health from Salute Her. “UTIs, periods, and thrush – those kinds of health issues that impact women specifically – are a massive problem,” she added.

Out of 3,000 women registered with the charity, Ms Edwards said the majority have suffered from thrush, incontinence, recurring or chronic UTIs, bladder pain or other gynecological problems.