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Sexual Assault
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is sexual assault?
- Sexual assault is unwanted sexual physical contact made to you by another person. You may not agree to the contact, or you may agree to it because you are pressured, forced, or threatened. You may have agreed to it when you could not think clearly, such as after drinking alcohol or using drugs. You may have also been tricked into agreeing to the physical contact.
- Sexual assault can include touching your private areas, or rape. Rape is when a man's penis enters the vagina of a female, or the anus or mouth of a male or a female. Assault by penetration is when an object is put into the vagina or anus on purpose, without the person agreeing to it. Sexual assault also includes rape and abuse that happens between two people who are married to each other. Sexual assault may happen to women, men and children.
What is drug-facilitated sexual assault?
- When a drug is used in sexual assault it is called drug-facilitated sexual assault, or DFSA. In many cases of sexual assault, the attacker, the victim, or both have been drinking alcohol. Alcohol is a drug found in adult drinks such as beer, wine, vodka and whiskey. Other drugs used in sexual assault may be liquids or powders. These drugs can be added to drinks, smoked, or breathed in.
- Some drugs have no smell, taste, or color, so can be given without you knowing it. You may also choose to take the drug, and then are sexually abused after taking it. Drugs used in sexual assault can make you very weak or tired, or you may lose consciousness (fall asleep). While a person is affected by the drug, the attacker commits sexual assault. Barbiturates (barbs) and GHB (ecstasy) are examples of drugs that can be used in sexual assault. Over-the-counter cough and sleep medicines have also been used.
What should I do if I have been sexually assaulted? Report the sexual assault to the police as soon as possible after it happens, and see a caregiver right away. You may have injuries that need immediate treatment. You may need to be tested to check for diseases, or women may need to have a pregnancy test. Tests may be needed to check for drugs used during the sexual assault. Other tests may be done to collect samples of the attackers skin or hair from your body. The police can use these samples to help find the person or persons who attacked you.
Why does sexual assault happen? Sexual assault often happens because the attacker has a need for power and control. The attacker may be a family member, someone you know, or a person you have never met. Sexual assault is not your fault. What you may have said or how you may have looked or dressed did not cause the assault. In most cases, you could not have prevented or stopped the assault from happening.
How can sexual assault affect me physically? You may have cuts and bruises on your body, or fractured (broken) bones. There may be swelling, bruising and pain in your genital or anal areas. Your skin may be cut or torn in these areas. If you were forced to have oral sex, your throat may be sore. If drugs were used, you may have been asleep or unable to fight back during the assault. You may not be able to remember the assault, or you may only remember some parts of it. You may feel very tired after the assault, and be unable to think clearly.
How can sexual assault affect my thoughts and emotions?
- You may feel scared and want to cry after the assault. You may talk a lot, or not talk at all. You may have problems sleeping, feel anxious, or not want to be left alone. You may not have any changes in your actions right after the sexual assault. Months or years later you may have changes in the way you feel and act. Both males and females who are sexually assaulted have emotional pain. Females who are sexually assaulted may be afraid that they are pregnant. Both males and females may be afraid that the attacker gave them a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
- Feelings of depression (deep sadness) may hurt your relationships with others. You may not want to be touched or have sex, or you may have trouble enjoying sex. You may be fearful of others, and confused about whether or not the attack really happened. If you know who your attacker is, you may be afraid of seeing the person again, or even of telling the police. You may fear that others will reject you, or you may have trouble trusting people after sexual assault. You may blame yourself for the assault, especially if you drank alcohol or used drugs before it happened. You may feel guilty if you cannot remember what happened, and you cannot help the police find your attacker. You may feel ashamed when telling the police or caregivers about the assault.
What may happen when I see caregivers after the sexual assault?
- Caregivers will ask you about the time and place of the assault, and how it happened. Your caregiver will ask you if you knew your attacker, and what the person looked like. Tell your caregiver if there was more than one person who attacked or assaulted you. Tell your caregiver if you were tied up, and if you were threatened or forced to do things. Tell him if the attacker tried to insert anything into your body. Tell him about any objects or weapons that were used. Tell him if ejaculation occurred, and if the attacker was wearing a condom.
- If you are female, caregivers will ask about your last menstrual period and pregnancy history. Tell him if you had any sexual activity before or after the assault. Tell him if you are using birth control pills, condoms or other methods. Tell him if you have any diseases or medical conditions. Tell your caregiver if you have had a tetanus shot. Tell caregivers what you did after the assault, including changing your clothes, brushing your teeth, or taking a bath. Tell your caregiver if you used the bathroom after the sexual assault, or if you douched. A douche is when a female sprays water or solution inside her vagina.
- A caregiver will need to examine (check) your body to find any injuries, and to collect samples. You will need to remove your clothes and change into a hospital gown. Caregivers will look for scratches, bruises, bite marks, cuts, burns, or other injuries. Your mouth will be checked for marks caused by forced oral penetration. Tell your caregiver if you want the exam to stop at any time.
What tests may be done after a sexual assault?
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Colposcopy: Using this procedure, your caregiver can look inside your vagina using a special scope. The scope may be attached to a camera or monitor, and pictures may be taken.
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Proctoscopy: This procedure is done if there was forced anal penetration. This test shows problems inside your anus and rectum. A special scope made of a long tube with a lens and a light on the end is used.
- Samples of semen in males, vaginal fluid in females, and blood, urine, saliva, and hair from both men and women may be collected: Swabs are used to get samples from the mouth, anus, vagina and under the fingernails. Other samples may be collected by combing your head and pubic hair. Samples of your urine, blood, and hair may be collected to check for alcohol or drugs in your body.
What should I know about sexually transmitted diseases after sexual assault? You may get sexually transmitted diseases (STD) after sexual assault. Ask your caregiver for more information about the following diseases:
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Chlamydia and gonorrhea: Samples are collected from the area or areas where the attacker tried to insert his penis or an object into your body. The samples are then tested for the germs causing these diseases. Antibiotic medicine may be given to fight or prevent infection caused by bacteria. This medicine may be given to prevent gonorrhea or chlamydia infections after sexual assault.
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Hepatitis B and C, and HIV: Blood tests to check for hepatitis B and HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) may be done 12 weeks after the assault. Blood tests may be done again 24 weeks after the assault. Hepatitis C blood tests may be done 3 to 6 months after the sexual assault. A vaccine is a medicine that helps your immune system fight a disease. The hepatitis B vaccine may be given to help prevent that disease. An anti-viral medicine may be given if you are at risk of having HIV after the sexual assault.
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Syphilis: Blood is collected and tested for germs that cause syphilis.
- Yeast, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomonas vaginalis: Samples are taken from the vaginal in females to look for the germs causing these infections. Medicine may be given if you have any of these infections after the assault.
What should I know about pregnancy after sexual assault? Pregnancy occurs when a man's sperm cell meets a woman's egg cell. An egg cell is released only at the time of ovulation. Once an egg is released, it can be fertilized by a sperm for 24 hours. The chance of a female being pregnant after one incident of sexual assault is low. A pregnancy test may be done after the assault. In some cases, caregivers may give you emergency contraception (birth control) to prevent pregnancy. Birth control pills or an intrauterine device (IUD) can be used to help prevent pregnancy hours to days after the assault happened.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder?
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder. Many people who have been sexually assaulted develop PTSD after the assault. PTSD can cause symptoms such as dreams or flashbacks, where you go through the sexual assault again. This condition can make you want to stay away from family and friends. Talk to someone who you can trust about your thoughts and feelings, such as a caregiver. Talk to caregivers if you are afraid of having an STD, or if you are a female who is afraid of being pregnant.
- It may take a long time to recover after you have been sexually assaulted. Specially trained caregivers can help you recover. Cognitive therapy can help you become aware of how you see things, and help you think in a more positive way. Relaxation therapy can help you focus on something other than your feelings. This therapy can include having good smells around you, listening to music that you enjoy, or taking a bath. Caregivers may teach you new ways to manage your anxiety and stress. Family meetings can help you and your family or those close to you learn to cope with the sexual assault. You may want to join a support group with other victims of sexual assault. Contact the following for more information:
- American Academy of Family Physicians
PO Box 11210
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207-1210
Phone: 1-913-906-6000
Web Address: http://www.aafp.org
- American Academy of Family Physicians
When should I call my caregiver? Call your caregiver if:
- You think you may be pregnant.
- You have new signs or symptoms after treatment to prevent STDs or pregnancy.
- You are not able to sleep well, or cannot eat.
- You have an upset stomach or are throwing up.
- You have pain, drainage, or sores in your genital area.
When should I seek immediate help? Seek care immediately or call 911 if:
- You are a male who has genital swelling or pain, or unusual bleeding from the anus.
- You are a female who has genital swelling or pain, or unusual bleeding from the anus or vagina.
- You have joint pain, rash, swollen areas on your neck, and night sweats.
- You have very bad stomach pain.
- You have a very bad headache.
- You are thinking about hurting or killing yourself.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about sexual assault and how you may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care will be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.