How do doctors determine whether you have been raped?
458483
There might be scarring if you were a really young child when you were raped. Laceration of the upper vagina may have occurred. In order to see this, they might use laparoscopy. That's like sticking a slim telescope with a flashlight up there to see if any scarring occurred.\n\nHowever, they might not discover anything if there were no severe injuries. \n\nBTW, I hope whoever does the virginity test realizes some girls are born without a hymen. I'm sure they'll know what they're doing though.
734366
It depends on the policy of the prosecutor's office in that jurisdiction.  Most prosecuting authorities have a victim/witness program.  She should contact this office and explain her fears.  If she isn't already, she needs to contact a rape counseling center.  There are a lot of issues going on here and she needs professional assistance.\n\nI agree she should not drop it, and in fact, the decision to drop the matter is no longer hers.  The prosecutor decides whether he/she has sufficient evidence to convict her attacker.  In many cases, unless she is willing to perjure herself, then the case can go forward without her.  If the medical evidence is strong enough, it may not be necessary for her to testify.\n\nIf she tries to claim that the event didn't happen and/or that the attack was consensual, they may file criminal charges against her for false reporting.\n\nAgain, I strongly suggest that she contact the victim/witness program there and also contact a rape counseling/crisis intervention center for assistance.
402088
If you are the accuser, you don't have to be present.  But, know that it will make the judge seriously question your credibility..and your testimony may be what is needed to get a conviction.  I don't know what happened, but if it is something traumatic like a rape, etc...you can testify by closed circuit television...ask your lawyer, or if you don't have one, call the court and ask them..
1108210
First and foremost, rape is rape. There is no psychological benefit to it being a woman instead of a man. I'm not sure how old you are, but I would recommend you find a decent counseler and talk it out. There is no statute of limitations on the rape hotline, and they can recommend help for you. Some places have Rape/Spouse abuse crisis centers where people who have been through these types of ordeals can help you with the steps you need to take. The second thing I want you to know is that you did nothing wrong. There is nothing you could have done that would justify the robbing of a part of your humanity, and rape does just that. I'm not sure how the law handles something like this after a year, so I can't tell you whether you can still prosecute, you'll have to talk to your state attorney general's office.\n\nGood Luck
708821
NOTHING WITHOUT YOUR SIGNED CONSENT. THIS IS A VERY STRICT LAW AND HOSPITALS, DOCTORS AND OTHER MEDICAL PERSONNEL CAN BE SEVERELY PUNISHED.
1179897
How are you finding this out if it isn't being reported? Are you a victim or are you one of the rapists?
96362
Even if this had only happened once, I would definitely still say to get it checked out. It is completely not normal. Don't let this go. Don't avoid the doctor because you are afraid of what he/she will diagnose you with. You have it either way, whether you know it or not.
1138191
If it was you that has been raped please report it and get the help you need .its a very traumatic thing to have happened to you  and my heart goes out to you,\nPlease you dont want a web site ,You need proper help Please seek it,
1050875
The best way to find out is to ask him.  You've been with the guy two years, you have a right to know with you being at risk for HIV and STDs.\n\nBeing raped is a traumatic experience that is never forgotten\n\nHe could also have a bi-polar disorder.  Eiither way, it definitely sounds like he needs professional counseling though.
1152918
The medical licensing board will usually tell you if the physician has ever had any disciplinary actions against them.  If they have had any malpractice issues in that state, they'll usually have that info, too.\n\nBut keep in mind that sometimes docs with bad histories jump from state to state.  You might have to check with a couple of states to get a good idea of their history.
529026
Not without a medical exam, I think.\n\nThey used to say that a woman bled after sex the first time, but that is not always the case and there are times for women who have had sex before to bleed after intercourse - so that method is not really concrete.
919736
Ah, the answer is not so clear. In most states, there is a thing called the "discovery rule" which allows people to bring actions when they "discover" the harm, not just after the harm takes place. \nFor example, let's take a doctor who leaves an instrument in your gut during an operation.  You may have slight pains, but no real reason to know anything is wrong.  Then, ten years later, you have serious complications. An X-ray shows that the tool is still there.  In many jurisdictions, you can sue for malpractice then, even if the usual statute of limitations is 2 or 3 years.\n\nSame with this "abuse" charge.  First, we need to make sure that we're talking about a civil case (battery, negligence, false imprisonment, etc.) and not a CRIMINAL charge by the State, which has a whole different set of deadlines and rules.  If the abuse occurred at a time when you, as a minor, didn't understand what was going on and/or you couldn't sue (because you were a minor), then the statute of limitations may have been "tolled" either due to your minority or due to your "discovery" of the harm once you got older. This is the same issue that courts were tackling with in the Catholic Church sex abuse cases, where people were "discovering" that they had been abused 20 years ago.\n\nThus, either because of (a) your minority, or (b) the "discovery" rule, I would suggest that you at least seek counsel.  Most plaintiffs' attorneys will have a free initial consultation and tell you whether your case has merit.
1048610
Ask the doctor who diagnosed you.
127577
It is called, have you had sex.\nIf the answer is yes, then no you aren't.\nIf the answer is no, then yes you are.\n\nEdit:  No, there is not a test like that.  You maybe thinking about the doctor checking your hymen, but that may be broken in other ways (horseback riding, althletic activites, etc), even if you haven't had sex.
358728
First, to be diagnosed with PTSD, the first criteria is to have experienced an event that involved actual or threatened death, serious injury, or threat to the physical integrity of yourself or others. If this has happened to you, and a person was the cause (rather than a tornado, car wreck, etc.), then you need to report it to your parents or another adult.\nThere is a workbook called the PTSD workbook, written by Dr. Mary Beth Williams and Dr Soili Poijula. I got it at Books A Million. The web address for the publisher is www.newharbinger.com. The product number is 2825. $17.95. The book contains a self test, as well as exercises for the treatment of PTSD. Some symptoms are...reexperiencing the traumatic event through bad dreams, flashbacks, distressing and recurring thoughts, images, or perceptions; you experience intense mental distress or physical reactions to anything that reminds you of the event (like smells, sights, sounds, dates); loss of memory, feeling of detachment or estrangement from others, ability to feel emotion is restricted; sense of foreshortened future (you do not expect to have a career, marraige, children, or normal life span); difficulty falling or staying asleep; irritability or outbursts of anger; difficulty concentrating; hypervigilance (being overly watchful); exaggerated startle response (you're jumpy); chronic guilt or self blame; and physical manifestations that include digestive problems, chronic pain, or panic attacks\nThis book and treatment changed my life. Even if you don't have PTSD but feel some of these things, it can help you. However, considering your age, it would be best to seek a professional therapist to guide you through the process. Even adults have to do this sometimes. I've also listed some websites for you.\n\nI have already answered your other duplicate question. This is the same answer....
427252
First, to be diagnosed with PTSD, the first criteria is to have experienced an event that involved actual or threatened death, serious injury, or threat to the physical integrity of yourself or others. If this has happened to you, and a person was the cause (rather than a tornado, car wreck, etc.), then you need to report it to your parents or another adult.\n There is a workbook called the PTSD workbook, written by Dr. Mary Beth Williams and Dr Soili Poijula. I got it at Books A Million. The web address for the publisher is www.newharbinger.com. The product number is 2825. $17.95. The book contains a self test, as well as exercises for the treatment of PTSD. Some symptoms are...reexperiencing the traumatic event through bad dreams, flashbacks, distressing and recurring thoughts, images, or perceptions; you experience intense mental distress or physical reactions to anything that reminds you of the event (like smells, sights, sounds, dates); loss of memory, feeling of detachment or estrangement from others, ability to feel emotion is restricted; sense of foreshortened future (you do not expect to have a career, marraige, children, or normal life span); difficulty falling or staying asleep; irritability or outbursts of anger; difficulty concentrating; hypervigilance (being overly watchful); exaggerated startle response (you're jumpy); chronic guilt or self blame; and physical manifestations that include digestive problems, chronic pain, or panic attacks\nThis book and treatment changed my life. Even if you don't have PTSD but feel some of these things, it can help you. However, considering your age, it would be best to seek a professional therapist to guide you through the process. Even adults have to do this sometimes. I've also listed some websites for you.\n\nSource(s):\n\nThe PTSD Workbook by Dr Mary Beth Williams and Dr Soili Poijula.
1168858
My girlfriend was orally raped and didn't say anything to anyone.  She then gave me an STD.  It hurts to urinate, and I have lesions on my penis.  She doesn't know what it is, and I'm still waiting on my test results.