Sexual Assault Examination

Sexual Assault Forensic Examination in adult and child cases: Is Colposcopy Really Necessary?

“…Protocols involving conventional methods without colposcopy historically led to detect a genital finding in 10% to 30% of female sexual assault victims, while this percentage elevated to be ranged between 87% to 92% when colposcope was used. Templeton and Williams (2006) and Rogers and McBride (2014) [29,30] mentioned that colposcopy is a clinical procedure used to examine the epithelium of anogenital area with a magnifying instrument by which microtrauma and mucosal surface injuries such as scratches, lacerations, edema hymenal tears, and anal cracks could be detected easily after both consensual and non-consensual intercourse and sexual attack. Also, it has good light sources and zooming powers that permit a detailed and accurate examination and gives the chance for noninvasive photos that do not need a flash illumination Sommers et al (2005) and (Kesic, 2005) [31,32] had discussed that the positive results of swaps and cloths examination in sexual assault victims, while there was negative finding with the colposcopic examination, could be attributed to the timing of examination by colposcopy and healing of microtrauma or friction mark and disappearance of the redness in genitalia during external friction without penetration.…”