The patient may be ashamed and unwilling to give clear history, precisely when such history is critical for timely treatment and forensic documentation. Clinicians often simultaneously are advocates for the patient and agents of the state. It is vital to the continued well-being of the patient and society that the physician has clear knowledge of how to proceed in such cases. It is virtually certain that many more assaults occur than are ever reported, due to emotional stress and misplaced shame on the part of the victim. Current estimates indicate that 1 in 4 women will be the victim of a sexual assault in her lifetime.
Injuries occurring during the assault can cause any degree of morbidity or result in death.
Sexual assault victimizes members of all racial groups. Although the majority of sexual assaults involve women, men also may present as victims of sexual assault. Whether or not drugs were proffered in order to render the victim incapable of resistance Whether or not the patient has changed clothes, showered, or douched since the incident A standard OB-GYN history should also be taken, to facilitate later pregnancy and STD prophylaxis, as appropriate. This should include last menstrual period, birth control method, and time of last consensual intercourse. Colposcopy, where available, may have considerable value in documentation, as it allows photographic recording of injuries.