Genital Findings of Women After Consensual and Nonconsensual Intercourse

Abstract

After a sexual assault, forensic nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians are called on to collect evidence, document any genital injuries, and testify about the significance of injuries. Recently, the scientific rigor of the research has been challenged in the courts.

Defining Patterns of Genital Injury From Sexual Assault

“…In contrast to other work, in a recent study the investigators reported that 30.4% of consensual participants (n = 46) and a surprisingly low 32.1% of nonconsensual participants (n = 56) had genital injury (Anderson, McClain, & Riviello, 2006). Although the study had significant methodological problems such as small sample size; heterogeneity of groups with regard to age, history, and time to examination; and lack of adequate matching procedures, the study raises interesting questions about the low injury prevalence in the consensual population reported previously.…”

Nature, frequency and duration of genital lesions after consensual sexual intercourse—Implications for legal proceedings

“…The lesions were predominantly located in the posterior forchette [2,6,10] in studies that mentioned site. Two of the four studies that mentioned type had lacerations as the predominant lesion [2,7], whereas the other two found bruising to be predominant [6,10]. Three studies had information regarding number of lesions.…”

“…A review of the literature identifies seven studies of lesions seen after consensual sexual intercourse among adults, four recent [2,5,6,7] and three older studies [8][9][10]. One study describes lesions seen after consensual sexual intercourse in adolescents aged 13-17 years [11].…”

“…In Denmark examinations are performed by forensic pathologists. The expert testimony given by these professionals in cases of genital lesions in sexual assaults has been questioned in court in several countries [2][3][4] and thus increased focus on the lack of scientific knowledge on genital lesions.…”

Greentree White Paper: Sexual Violence, Genitoanal Injury, and HIV: Priorities for Research, Policy, and Practice

“…Inflammation, abrasions, and injury can result from both forced and consensual sex, 30,31 although most studies associate higher rates (up to three times higher) of injury with sexual assault. [32][33][34] Rates of reported injury in cases of forced sex vary immensely, with studies estimating between 32% 30 and 94%.…”