Consequences of rape and sexual assault are far-reaching. They include, but are not limited to:
- Psychological harm
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Self-harm or suicide ideation, plan or acts
- Physical harm
- Exposure to blood-borne viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis B
- Exposure to sexually transmitted infections
- Social harms
- Relationship and sexual difficulties
- Time off work or education
- Destruction of sense of community and safety
Learning bite
Physical trauma is often associated with sexual assault6. When risk-stratifying each patient, remember to assess for non-urogenital trauma.