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Healthcare following sexual assault helps ensure the well-being of survivors.
Safety First
The first priority is to ensure the survivor’s safety. If the assault has just occurred or there is an immediate threat, the survivor should find a safe place and call for emergency assistance.
Get Help
Seek medical help, if you chose, as soon as it is safe to do so. Trained professionals are there to support you. Consider contacting a Sexual Assault Advocate as well. Seeking medical care does not mean adult victims must report the crime to law enforcement.
Preserve Evidence
It is important to preserve evidence by avoiding showering, changing clothes, or disturbing the crime scene before seeking medical care. This may be helpful should the adult survivor chose to report the assault.
Sexual Assault Advocate
For health reasons, it is beneficial to have a sexual assault exam done as soon as possible following a sexual assault. If you have not yet received any medical attention, consider discussing this with a Sexual Assault advocate at Someplace Safe at 800.974.3359. The advocate can assist you with information about what happens during the exam. An advocate can accompany you to an exam if you would like them to.
Getting Help
Survivors should be informed about the process and have the option to decide whether or not to proceed with a sexual assault examination.
Follow-up Care
After an initial medical exam, remember that follow-up tests and visits to a physician are important in determining any long-term health concerns. A Sexual Assault advocate is available to discuss any questions you have.
Long-Term Health Concerns
Sexual assault can have profound emotional and psychological effects. Survivors should be provided access to mental health support services, including counseling or therapy, to address the emotional trauma and promote healing and recovery.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Survivors should be offered testing and treatment for STIs at the time of the initial exam. Prompt medical attention can help prevent potential complications and provide necessary treatment.
Depending on how soon after the sexual assault a survivor is able to seek medical attention, they may have received medication to help prevent becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease or STIs. While this early treatment can be beneficial, follow-up testing is necessary to accurately determine whether or not they were infected with an STIs.
Its Not too Late
If a survivor did not complete follow-up testing, or you have not yet sought STI testing since the sexual assault, it’s not too late.
Consider getting testing done because many sexually transmitted diseases do not exhibit symptoms or may have periods of time when symptoms disappear or go dormant.
Even though they may not cause noticeable discomfort, untreated STIs can create long-term health problems. Early detection and treatment can help prevent these long-term health complications. Sexual Assault Advocates are available to provide referrals to confidential testing sites.
HIV/AIDS
Victims of sexual assault frequently express concerns about having been infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Be safe, get tested, and learn about your potential risk at a confidential or anonymous testing site. Trained health professionals offer the test along with pre and post-test counseling.
It may be necessary to wait between 6 to 12 weeks after the sexual assault before it is possible to detect the presence of the HIV virus. Early testing can document your status prior to the assault.
Sexual Assault Advocates can talk about these considerations. They can also provide referrals to testing sites and other available services.
Pregnancy
A pregnancy test can be done at the initial exam, and depending on the circumstances, oral emergency contraception may be offered to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
If the survivor did not seek medical services or did not take the medication, they may consider getting a pregnancy test. Since there are several variables involved in making an accurate determination, consult a healthcare professional about the best time to be tested.
Survivor’s Decisions Must be Respected
It is important to note that every survivor’s needs and preferences may vary, and their decisions regarding healthcare should be respected and supported. For some sexual assault survivors, seeking medical attention may not be a priority, especially if they are experiencing little or no physical pain. Other survivors may be very concerned about knowing whether they were infected with STIs or have become pregnant through the sexual assault. Both reactions are very understandable.
Encouraging survivors to reach out to Someplace Safe to get a Sexual Assault Advocate at 800.074.3359 or support groups can provide additional resources and guidance tailored to their specific circumstances.
Youth Health Care
Healthcare following sexual abuse of youth is crucial for their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Children 12 and under require specialized medical care following a sexual assault.