gynecology and obstetrics
Medical Examination of the Rape Victim
Introduction
Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity or contact that a person does not consent to. Sexual assault, including rape, may cause physical injury or illness or psychologic trauma. Survivors should be evaluated for injury, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, and acute or posttraumatic stress disorders; they are asked to give permission for an examination to collect evidence. Treatment includes infection prophylaxis and mental health care. Sexual assault includes rape and sexual coercion; it may involve physical force or threats of force, or the attacker giving the victim drugs or alcohol. Although legal and medical definitions vary, rape is typically defined as penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object or oral penetration by another person's sex organ without the consent of the victim ( General reference ). People under the age of consent cannot give consent to sexual activity with an adult. Typically, rape is an expression of aggression, anger, or need for power; psychologically, it is more violent than sexual. Nongenital or genital injury occurs in about 50% of rapes of females. Rape and other forms of sexual assault, including childhood sexual assault, are common; the estimated lifetime incidence for both ranges from 2 to 30% but tends to be about 15 to 20%. However, actual incidence may be higher because rape and sexual assault tend to be underreported. Females have the highest rates of rape and sexually assault; however, victims include people of all genders. Males who are raped are more likely than females to be physically injured, to be unwilling to report the crime, and to have multiple assailants. 