Sexual Assault - The Danger of STDs

You'll also be tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, syphilis, and AIDS. If the rapist has an STD, there's a reasonable chance that he has passed it on to you through his semen or blood.

It takes 3 to 5 days to get the results back from initial STD testing. You'll also need follow-up tests 90 days later. Because of the chance that you were exposed to gonorrhea or chlamydia, the doctor will probably start treatment without waiting for the test results.

Symptoms of gonorrhea, if left untreated may be very mild, and you might not even notice them. You may have some abdominal pain, burning during urination, and a vaginal discharge. It is possible to get a gonorrhea infection in your mouth or anus, as well as in your vagina.

With chlamydia, you may notice a thin discharge from your vagina, as well as stomach pain and a burning sensation when you urinate some time after the exposure.

Trichomoniasis and vaginosis are forms of vaginal inflammation that can be caused by sexually transmitted organisms. They produce burning and itching sensations, odor, and a discharge.

In women, STD symptoms are not as noticeable as they are in men, and some types show no early warning signs at all. You should report anything unusual—discomfort or discharge, for example—to your doctor.

Syphilis begins with genital sores—which may go unnoticed—and progresses into flu-like symptoms. This disease is so contagious that it can be passed on just by kissing, and, if left untreated, it will eventually attack other organs, causing heart trouble, blindness, and severe mental illness. For more on this and other STDs, see "Coming to Terms with Sexually Transmitted Disease."

Dos and Don'ts After an Assault DO... Seek medical help as soon as possible Bring a change of clothes to the emergency room Get tested for sexually transmitted disease Inquire about emergency contraception Remember that what you say to medical personnel could be used in court DON'T... Shower... Douche, or... Change clothes until after the exam Hesitate to call the police

AIDS—acquired immune deficiency syndrome—leads to the total destruction of the immune system, but unless you get tested, you can carry the HIV virus that causes it for years without knowing it. You may be tested for the virus at the emergency room. If the results are negative, you'll learn the good news fairly quickly, sometimes within an hour. Positive results take longer because they must be confirmed by a second test. Finding out that you have this dreaded illness could be devastating, but it's still better to know. Doctors do have drugs that can stave off the disease. For more information, see "The Persistent Threat of AIDS."

If there is even a remote chance that you have gotten HIV or another STD, it's best to abstain completely from sex until you're sure you don't have it. If you do have sex, be sure to use a condom to help avoid the possibility of passing on HIV or other serious STDs to your partner.