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Health Care Following a Sexual Assault

What Should I do if I Have Been Sexually Assaulted?

 

1. Get far away from the attacker. Ask a friend, neighbor or loved one to stay with you.
2. Call 911 immediately to report the attack. If you want more information first, call the Someplace Safe Crisis Line at 800-974-3359.

Should I report my attack to the police?

This is a personal decision. No one else; friends, family, the police, or other well meaning people, can make this decision for you.

If you decide to report the assault or rape to the police, please do so as soon as possible.Please do not shower, or wash or destroy the clothing you are wearing. You will be given an exam and evidence will be collected by a trained nurse who will in turn hand it over to police for investigation of your assault.

If you know that you will never report, there are some things you should still consider:
1. Call the 24-hour Someplace Safe Crisis Line for confidential support and information on other services, including counseling at 800-974-3359.
2. Recognize that no one heals in the same way. Know that it’s never too late to call. Even if the attack happened years ago, Someplace Safe can still help you with your healing process. Many survivors do not realize they need or want help until months or even years later.

How do I Preserve Evidence of the Attack?

1. Do not bathe, douche, brush your teeth, brush your hair, clean wounds or change clothes.
2. Write down all of the details you can recall about the attack and the attacker.
3. Seek medical attention. Even with no apparent physical injuries, it is important to determine the risks of STDs and pregnancy. If you suspect you may have been drugged, ask that a urine sample be collected.

 

Should I Seek Medical Attention?

 

If you decide not to report the assault to the police, you should still seek medical attention from a hospital or local clinics. It is very important to have a thorough exam and be given medicine to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and/or pregnancy if you choose.

Hospital Accompaniment

If you are a recent victim of sexual assault or rape, Someplace Safe can send an advocate to meet you at your local hospital to get emergency help, medical treatment and support. Trained sexual assault advocates are available by contacting 800-974-3359 24-hours a day. If you choose to go to the hospital on your own or with a supportive person, the hospital can notify Someplace Safe on your behalf.

Advocates offer compassionate information and support. They are available to stay beside you if you choose to have an exam for medical purposes or evidence collection, and are trained to answer legal and medical questions. These compassionate, sensitive and well-trained individuals can be a first step toward the healing process after an assault.

 

Health Care Following a Sexual Assault

 

Part One: The Initial Exam

An initial medical/evidentiary exam is done for the following three purposes:

• to begin a determination of your physical injuries,
• to provide you with physical and emotional care,
• to collect evidence of the sexual assault should you choose to have the crime investigated.

For medical and legal reasons it is beneficial to have this exam 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. They can assist you with information about who in your community performs the exams, what happens during the exam, and how payment is handled. A trained advocate will accompany you to an exam if you would like them to.

 

Part Two: Follow-up Care

After an initial medical exam, remember that follow-up tests and visits to a physician are extremely important in determining any long term health concerns. If you were seen and treated at the Stevens Community Medical Center, you should have received information on whom to contact to schedule a follow-up appointment. If you received medical attention in another setting, you may be expected to pursue follow-up appointments on your own. In either situation, a Sexual Assault advocate at Someplace Safe is available to discuss any questions you have about follow-up medical care.

 

Part Three: Learning More About Health Concerns

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Depending how soon after the sexual assault you are able to seek medical attention, you may receive medication to help prevent an STD infection. While this early treatment can be beneficial, follow-up testing is necessary to accurately determine whether or not you were infected with an STD.

If you did not complete follow-up testing or you have not yet sought STD testing since the sexual assault, you may want to consider doing so. Many sexually transmitted diseases do not exhibit symptoms or  have periods of time when symptoms disappear. Even though they may not cause  discomfort, untreated STDs can create long term health problems. Sexual Assault Program advocates are available to talk with you about your concerns and 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. You should know that experts believe that most victims of sexual assault face a low risk of contracting the virus. The best way for you to learn more about your potential risk is to be tested at a confidential or anonymous testing site. Trained health professionals offer the test along with pre and post test counseling. Although 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 virus, earlier testing can document your status prior to the assault.

Pregnancy

If you received a medical exam soon after the sexual assault, you may have been offered medication to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. If you did not seek medical services or did not take the medication, you may consider getting a pregnancy test. It may be necessary to wait 1-2 weeks after your expected next period to be tested. Since there are several variables involved in making an accurate determination, consult a health care professional about the best time to be tested. You may consider requesting that this be done in conjunction with other testing.

 

Someplace Safe Sexual Assault Advocates

 

Sexual assault advocates can talk with you about your other concerns. We can also provide referrals to testing sites and other available services. For some sexual assault victims, seeking medical attention may not be a priority, especially if they are experiencing no physical pain. Others may be  concerned about whether they were infected or have become pregnant through the sexual assault.

Both reactions are understandable. As you consider your own health issues, keep in mind that early detection and treatment of any health problems can be an important step in regaining control in your life and reducing any long-term complications.