The offender often takes advantage of the natural trust among family members and then uses the same trust to hide the offense, threatening further harm or the loss of another family member's trust and affection if revealed. A complex bond may develop between an offender and victim. The effects Some of the physical effects of sexual abuse are immediately apparent and can include bruises, cuts, burns, injury to genitals, damage to reproductive and other internal organs, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. The psychological effects of sexual abuse may appear immediately, but often are delayed. Sexual abuse can destroy trust and warp the victim's perception of a normal, loving relationship.
Victims frequently feel they are at fault for the abuse and have low self-esteem.
These feelings can lead to depression, eating and sleeping disorders, and suicide attempts. Victims may fall into a pattern of searching out marital and sexual partners who abuse them. They may find it difficult to form meaningful and lasting relationships with members of the opposite sex or to have normal sexual relations. They may use sex to gain attention or affection and may see themselves worthy only as sex objects. Victims also resort to defense mechanisms to blot the incidents from their mind.