I feel OK physically. Do I need a medical examination?
It is very important to have a thorough medical examination immediately after a sexual assault, even if you do not have any apparent physical injuries.

You may have injuries of which you are not aware. Most sexual assault victims do not have serious or life-threatening injuries. Many victims do not even have visible minor injuries. However, you should still be examined by a doctor or a nurse. You may be in shock, and you may have internal injuries of which you are not aware. You may also have minor injuries, such as scratches or bruises. A doctor or nurse can treat these injuries. The doctor or nurse can also document any injuries you have sustained so that if you decide to take any kind of legal action, such as participating in the prosecution of your assailant, you will have a record of what happened to you.

A medical examination enables you to identify and preserve physical evidence of the assault. During a medical examination, the doctor or nurse can look for and collect physical evidence of a sexual assault, such as semen, sperm, saliva samples and stains on your body or clothing. This evidence may be present immediately after the assault but will deteriorate as time passes.

You can receive treatment to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A sexual assault can place you at risk for getting STIs. A doctor or nurse can help you evaluate your risk of contracting various STIs and advise you about ways to protect yourself against these risks. One of the benefits of obtaining medical care very soon after a sexual assault is that immediate evaluation and medication can prevent some STIs.

You can receive information about the risk of pregnancy resulting from a sexual assault. If you are a female sexual assault victim, the doctor or nurse can help you determine the likelihood that you could become pregnant as a result of the assault and can advise you about the alternatives available to you.