The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape believes that when a woman, adolescent or child becomes pregnant as the result of rape, incest, or any sexual assault, the full range of medical and treatment options must be presented.
It is common for victims of sexual assault to wait to report, or to never report. Less than 30 percent ever report to law enforcement authorities. An even smaller percentage of sexual assault victims go to an emergency department for evidence collection or medical care, which could include emergency contraception. Common reactions to a traumatic event like rape are shock, disbelief, fear, shame and denial. They may be compounded if the person has suffered previous victimizations.
Additionally, symptoms of trauma may mimic pregnancy: stress can cause cessation of menstruation; fatigue; somatic complaints like body pain; lack of appetite; and nausea.
Children and teens may not know or recognize the signs of pregnancy, or may fear having their parents finding out about the assault and pregnancy. Women with unsupportive or abusive partners may similarly feel the need to hide a sexual assault by another person, for fear for their own safety. Seeking medical attention may put them at greater risk of additional harm.
These are some of the many reasons why a victim may not come forward to report or seek medical care after being sexually assaulted. Seeking help may be delayed for days, weeks, months or much longer. Sadly, some victims are unable to tell anyone and may never receive support.
The invasive nature of sexual assault, the trauma that ensues, and the tendency for our society to disbelieve and blame victims create barriers for victims of sexual violence to publically share the crime that has been committed against them. Although normal, the delay in dealing with sexual assault can have a major impact on victims for the rest of their lives. This is particularly so if they become pregnant. In the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault, victims may have trouble recognizing and accepting that they have become pregnant from a rape and therefore delay in making a decision and taking action. One of the functions of trauma is a mind-body separation and it is not uncommon for people to delay a medical examination and therefore not realize they have become pregnant. Further delay in medical assessment and treatment can occur. It is for these reasons that we believe victims should have as much time as possible to make the reproductive and health decisions that are best for them in their own time.