Medical Issues

What is the sexual assault exam?

A sexual assault exam is a medical exam done by medical personnel. You are examined and treated for any injuries, and tested for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). During the exam, a sexual assault evidence kit may be completed. This kit is used to collect specimens, such as hair or semen, which may provide supportive physical evidence to be used in court. The presence or absence of physical evidence does not prove whether a person has been sexually assaulted.

Should I have the kit completed if I am not sure about reporting to the police?

Yes. It is important to have the kit completed as soon as possible after a sexual assault, even if you have not decided whether to report the assault to the police. Crucial evidence may be lost or destroyed as time passes. The law requires that the kit be held for 60 days to allow you time to decide. During this period, the kit will NOT be identified with your name. You can still choose not to report to the police.

Who pays for the exam?

 The State of Connecticut pays for the cost of completing the sexual assault evidence kit. The State will also pay for part of a sexual assault exam done on a child. However, the hospital may bill you for medication and any other costs of the exam. You will be able to get help with these bills from the Office of Victim Services.

Will I need any follow-up medical care?

 At the hospital you will be tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and pregnancy. These tests will only tell you if you were pregnant or had an STD before the assault. If you became pregnant or were infected with an STD by the offender, it will not show up until later. Even if you are given medication just in case, it is very important that you be re-tested in two weeks. This is considered follow-up medical care and can be done with your own doctor or at a clinic.

The Discharge Instructions sheet given to you when you left the hospital or clinic contains very important information. You should bring that sheet with you to any follow-up appointments.

If you receive hormone therapy to prevent pregnancy, you may have some nausea. If you need a prescription for anti-nausea medication, call the hospital where you were seen. It may take up to two weeks for your period to start. If it does not, or if you think you might be pregnant, you should have a blood test for pregnancy to be sure.

What about AIDS?

 Some people who have been sexually assaulted are concerned about HIV infection. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

The risk of HIV infection from a one-time sexual assault is low. Whether the sexual assault happened recently or in the past, you should talk to a knowledgeable person for advice. An HIV counselor or sexual assault counselor can provide support and information and can direct you to testing sites where you can receive free (or at very low cost) anonymous HIV testing and counseling. After discussing your situation with a counselor, you may want to be tested for HIV.

Because of the emotional trauma of the assault, it is better to wait at least 24 to 48 hours after the sexual assault to have an HIV test. There is no reason why this test must be given to you at the hospital as part of the sexual assault exam. Waiting will give you a chance to talk to a counselor and to think about your choices in order to make the best decision for you. A test given shortly after the assault will only tell you if you were infected before the assault. It can take up to six months to know if you have been infected, so you will need to be tested again in six months to tell if you were infected during the assault.

The law also gives you the right, in some cases, to request that the offender be tested for HIV. A sexual assault counselor or HIV counselor can tell you about this right. However, if you are concerned about HIV infection, you should be tested yourself.

Information provided by the State of Connecticut