Cervical findings in rape victims

Article Abstract:

Two case reports are cited to illustrate the usefulness of advanced technology for examining rape victims for injuries. In most cases of rape (70 percent or more), gynecologic examination does not yield evidence of trauma to the woman's cervix (the part of the uterus that extends into the vagina); however, use of colposcopy (a bright light and magnifying lens) can reveal such evidence. In one case, the woman was attacked by a male friend who repeatedly 'jabbed' his fingers into her vagina; in the other, the woman was attacked by a stranger who shoved an unknown object into her vagina. Colposcopic examination revealed signs of laceration in both cases in patterns consistent with the women's descriptions of how their injuries were occurred. The type of injury was different from that associated with penile penetration. Colposcopy can also document healing and thereby aid in verifying the time when attacks occurred. In these cases, the medical aspects of the injuries were not significant, but the legal implications were important. Rape can be charged when vaginal penetration has occurred; in cases such as these, rape with a foreign object may be an additional charge. Protocols for examining rape victims for forensic purposes would more reliably document the extent of injury if they included colposcopy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Methods, Usage, Laws, regulations and rules, Medical examination, Cervix uteri, Colposcopy, Forensic gynecology

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Patterns of genital injury in female sexual assault victims

Article Abstract:

Female genital trauma caused by rape may follow certain patterns of injury. Researchers performed physical examinations on 311 female rape victims and on 75 women who had consensual sexual intercourse. Women who were raped had an average of 3.1 injury sites in the genital area, whereas women who consented to intercourse had one or no injury sites. Genital trauma was caused by entry injuries. Most women (94%) had injuries of the posterior fourchette, labia minora, hymen, and/or the fossa navicularis. Forensic examiners may benefit from such findings on patterns of injury in rape victims.

Injuries, Reproductive organs, Female, Female genitalia

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Rape-related pregnancy: estimates and descriptive characteristics from a national sample of women

Article Abstract:

A significant number of rapes appear to result in pregnancy. Of 4008 adult women interviewed, 5% had experienced a rape-associated pregnancy during their reproductive years. This would translate to 32,101 rape-associated pregnancies nationwide. Most of these reported pregnancies occurred during adolescence and were the result of a rape by a friend or relative. Half of the respondents chose to abort the pregnancy, 32.2% raised the child, 11.8% miscarried, and 5.9% placed the child for adoption. Most of the respondents received no medical attention following the rape.

Health aspects, Demographic aspects, Pregnancy, Unwanted, Unwanted pregnancy

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