‘A sexual assault is any sexual act that a person did not consent to, or is forced into against their will. It is a form of sexual violence and includes rape (an assault involving penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth), or other sexual offences, such as groping, forced kissing, child sexual abuse or the torture of a person in a sexual manner.’⁽¹⁾

If you have been a victim of a sexual assault we can help guide you to get the care and support you need. It is your decision about which options, if any, you take.

These can include

-Helping you contact the local sexual assault referral centre.

-Helping you contact the police

-Within sexual health we can assess your risk of STIs and give treatment where necessary. We can also assess the need for emergency contraception and other treatments such as vaccinations and post exposure prophylaxis for HIV.

There is no time limit on talking to someone following a sexual assault. If it happened 2 days ago or 5 years ago we are still here to support you and talk you through your options.

(1) NHS Choices