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If you have been sexually assaulted...
- You should not shower or change your clothes because it can wash the
traces of semen or any other body fluids left in your body and destroy
evidence that can be used for a court case against the rapist.
- Go to a safe place where you feel comfortable like your friends house,
family member's house, or a crowded, public area.
- Get support. Call the Women's Center (320) 308-3995 or the 24 hour
rape hotline (320) 251-4357. An advocate will explain to you what choices,
resources and course of action are available and support you as you work
through them.
- Seek medical attention. Go to a hospital/clinic near you and get checked
for evidence, any types of STD's, pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS. Advocates from
the Women's Center or the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center are
available to accompany you.
- At the hospital you'll get examined for any injuries or bruises. You'll
also be offered what is called a "rape
kit."
- The hospital doctor can tell you about different treatments. If you
take the birth control pill or have an IUD, your chance of pregnancy is
small. If you don't take the pill, you may consider pregnancy
prevention treatment. Pregnancy prevention consists of taking 2 estrogen
pills when you first get to the hospital and 2 more pills 12 hours later.
This treatment reduces the risk of pregnancy by 60 to 90%. (The treatment
may make you feel sick to your stomach.)
- The risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease during a rape is
about 5 to 10%. Your doctor can prescribe medicine for Chlamydia, gonorrhea
and syphilis when you first get to the hospital. If you haven't already
been vaccinated for hepatitis B, you should get that vaccination when
you first see the hospital doctor. Then you'll get another vaccination
in 1 month and a third 1 in 6 months. The hospital doctor will also tell
you about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Your chance of
getting HIV from a rape is less than 1%, but if you want preventive treatment
you can take 2 medicines--zidovudine (brand name: Retrovir) and lamivudine
(brand name: Epivir)--for 4 weeks.
- Reporting a sexual assault to the police can be a hard decision. Advocates
are available to support you through that process. To report a sexual
assault you have several options.
- If you report the rape to the police doesn't mean pressing charges
or taking the rapist to court, but it can help the police investigate
, and it may help them solve other rape cases.
- If you don't report the incident to the police it doesn't mean that
you won't receive medical care or counseling. Telling your story can be
very painful but it can help you heal. It's much better to have a friend
or family member with you.
Crime
Victim's Bill of Rights
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