Consequences of Sexual Violence

Sexual violence can have harmful and lasting consequences for victims, families, and communities. The following list describes some of them.

Physical

• Women who experience both sexual and physical abuse are significantly more likely to have sexually transmitted diseases.
• More than 32,000 pregnancies result from rape every year
• Some long-term consequences include:
  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Premenstrual syndrome
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Gynecological and pregnancy complications
  • Migraines and other frequent headaches
  • Back pain
  • Facial pain
  • Disability that prevents work

Psychological

Victims of sexual violence face both immediate and chronic psychological consequences.

Immediate psychological consequences include:

• Shock
• Denial
• Fear
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Withdrawal
• Guilt
• Sexual anorexia
• Nervousness
• Distrust of others
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Emotional detachment
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Flashbacks
  • Mental replay of assault

Chronic psychological consequences include:

• Depression
• Attempted or completed suicide
• Alienation
• Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms
• Unhealthy diet-related behaviors
• Fasting
• Vomiting
• Abusing diet pills
• Overeating

Social

Sexual violence also has social impacts on its victims, such as:

• Strained relationships with the victim's family, friends, and intimate partners
• Less emotional support from friends and family
• Less frequent contact with friends and relatives
• Lower likelihood of marriage

Health Behaviors

Some researchers view the following health behaviors as both consequences of sexual violence and factors that increase a person's vulnerability to being victimized again in the future.

Engaging in high-risk sexual behavior including:

• Unprotected sex
• Early sexual initiation
• Choosing unhealthy sexual partners
• Having multiple sex partners
• Trading sex for food, money, or other items
• Using or abusing harmful substances, including:
  • Smoking cigarettes
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Driving after drinking alcohol
  • Taking drugs

Content Source: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention

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