It Happened Recently
If you’ve recently been raped, sexually assaulted, sexually abused – or experienced another type of sexual violence – we hope this infomration if helpful.
If you are in danger or need urgent medical attention, call 999.
If something has just happened to you, you might have lots of different thoughts and emotions. You might be feeling very scared, upset or angry. Or, you might be feeling numb, confused or unsure.
There’s no right or wrong way for you to feel. Your thoughts and feelings might also change over time – and that’s OK.
However you are feeling, try to remember what happened isn’t your fault.
You might also be unsure about what to do next. As a first step, you might want to:
- Try to get somewhere that feels safe.
- See if someone you trust can be with you.
- Talk to someone – if you don’t feel like telling a friend or family member yet, you can talk to us.
When you are ready, we have some information about some options below.
Your local Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
If you have been recently raped or sexually assaulted, you can go to your local SARC.
SARCs can offer confidential medical and practical support to people who have recently been raped or sexually assaulted.
If you think you might want to report to the police, you can also have a forensic medical exam. This is where a specially trained doctor or nurse collects evidence from your body and clothes, that might be used in court.
You can go to a SARC without talking to the police. You should also be able to choose whether you get a forensic medical exam or not.
As well as doing forensic medical exams, a SARC should be able to help you with:
- Getting medical help for any injuries
- Pregnancy tests
- STI tests
- Emergency contraception
Sexual Health
Sexual violence can have an impact on your physical and mental health, and support is available. Your GP, local sexual health clinic or sexual assault referral centre (SARC) can all offer you safe and confidential advice and treatment.
If there is a possibility that you could be pregnant following rape, you can attend one of the above places to have a pregnancy test and explore your options. If it is less than five days following the incident, you may be eligible for emergency contraception.
If you have experienced sexual violence, it’s important to think about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) which can be passed on through oral, vaginal and anal sexual contact. It is advised that you are tested for STIs after rape or sexual assault, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
Sexual Health Clinics support everyone with their sexual health, regardless of whether they have experienced sexual violence. They offer general services including:
- Advice and information about sexual health
- STI testing and treatment
- Pregnancy tests and advice
- Abortion services
- Contraception including emergency contraception
- HIV testing
- Cervical screening (smear tests)
- PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) – medications that can help prevent you from contracting HIV either after or before exposure respectively.
Reporting to the police
Whether or not you go to the police should always be your choice.
No-one should ever put pressure on you to speak to the police, and it should always be your choice.
But if you do want to report, you can contact us about your rights and options. We have specialist workers called ISVAs who can give you information and support throughout the process. Find out more about our ISVAs.
