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National Institutes of Health
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is any sexual activity to which you haven't freely given your consent. This includes completed or attempted sex acts that are against your will. Sometimes it can involve a victim who is unable to consent. It also includes abusive sexual contact. It can happen to men, women or children.
The attacker can be anyone - a current or former partner, a family member, a person in position of power or trust, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.
Sexual assault can affect your health in many ways. It can lead to long-term health and emotional problems. It is important to seek help if you have been assaulted. First, get to a safe place. Then dial 911 or go to a hospital for medical care. You may want to have counseling to deal with your feelings. The most important thing to know is that the assault was not your fault.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Start Here
- Sexual Assault(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
- Understanding Sexual Violence(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- No links available
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Overviews
- Rape(Nemours Foundation)
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Latest News
- Study Reveals the Many Ways Sexual Assault Harms Women(10/12/2012, HealthDay)
- Pain from Sexual Assault Often Untreated, Study Says(09/14/2012, HealthDay)
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Prevention/Screening
- Self-Defense(Nemours Foundation)
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Coping
- Common Reactions After Trauma(National Center for PTSD)
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Related Issues
- Date Rape Drugs(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Rape(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Rape
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- Violence against Women: Resources by State(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
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Organizations
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Statistics
- National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 Highlights(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Rape and Sexual Assault(Dept. of Justice)
- Sexual Violence(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
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Teenagers
- Date Rape(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- What Is Rape and Date Rape?(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
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Men
- Male Sexual Victimization Myths & Facts(MaleSurvivor: National Organization against Male Sexual Victimization)
- Men and Sexual Trauma(National Center for PTSD)
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Women
- Sexual Assault against Females(National Center for PTSD)
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Patient Handouts
- Rape
- Also available in Spanish
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