Disclosure of Sexual Violence: Indentifying and Managing Adult Sexual Assault and Rape (A Guide for Medical Students)

Sexual violence is common, with about one in every four people experiencing some form of sexual abuse.[1] [2] It can have substantial health consequences, such as sexually transmitted infections (including HIV and hepatitis B), post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, unintended pregnancy, and suicide.[3] Despite these health consequences, and recommendations that medical students should receive instruction on sexual violence,[4] [5] [6] [7] the topic is not always covered in depth in undergraduate training.[8] We aim to give students an overview of the care of adult patients who disclose sexual violence. Cite this as: Student BMJ 2015;23:h132