sexual abuse and STD

[question_]

Salam Alikum

I just want to know, can it be possible that a female who was raped, to get STDs?

Even a few years later of it happening, without being diagnosed?

Coz really it isnt her fault that she got raped and so seems even more life ruinning than just the traumer of it actually happening coz how do you get on with your life is that happens and you happen to have an STD because of your rapist? children, husband, family etc ??

[Cashew]

Salam Alikum

I just want to know, can it be possible that a female who was raped, to get STDs?

Even a few years later of it happening, without being diagnosed?

Coz really it isnt her fault that she got raped and so seems even more life ruinning than just the traumer of it actually happening coz how do you get on with your life is that happens and you happen to have an STD because of your rapist? children, husband, family etc ??

Yes, it is entirely possible for a rape victim to contract STDs from the rapist.

A number of STDs, such as gential herpes and HPV (genital warts) may not produce obvious symptoms for months or even years after the assault.

(There is now a very safe and very effective vaccine against HPV [genital warts] and rape/sexual abuse is only one reason why every girl should get the vaccine. HPV causes about 90% of all cervical cancers.)

All victims of rape and sexual abuse should receive adequate screening for all STDs for which reliable tests are available.

The good news is that most STDs, once detected, can be treated safely and effectively.

[Saadet]

It's possible, yes, but it seems rather unlikely that the STD in question would take so long to surface.

[Cartman]

The only thing she can do is tell the police about her rapist. and to get some treatment for her STD as they can't cure them and pray to allah(SWT)

[sis_niqabi]

salam

yes it is possible for a woman to get an STD from rape. it's even possible for a woman to get preganant from a rape.

i suggest all rape victims go to the doctor to get tested for an STD after being raped

[Cashew]

The only thing she can do is tell the police about her rapist. and to get some treatment for her STD as they can't cure them and pray to allah(SWT)

This is not true.

Most sexually transmitted diseases, STDs, can be treated safely and effectively.


...it seems rather unlikely that the STD in question would take so long to surface...

This is not true.

Many STDs produce no obvious symptoms in women, or they produce symptoms so subtle that many women wouldn't understand what the symptoms meant.

For example, one of the most contagious STDs, Chlamydia, which is very easily passed from one person to another without the sort of contact that makes babies, very often produces no symptoms in women. (But it can be very dangerous for women if it's left untreated.)

If a woman or girl has been the victim of rape or sexual abuse, she should speak immediately with a doctor or conselor about what happened to her and ask to be screened for STDs.

Being raped or sexually abused isn't a cause of shame or dishonor.

No girl or woman should feel afraid of telling a doctor, or teacher, or consellor about the rape or sexual abuse.

[neelu]

It is possible to get STDs from a rape and in some cases it can take years before any noticeable symptoms emerge. She should get checked out by a Doctor as soon as possible and also take regular smear tests as cervical cancer can affect any woman who has had sex (regardless of the circumstances in which sex took place whether the sex was consensual/forced/haram through zina/halal through marriage). For the sake of her health it is worth seeing a doctor about this because although some STDs are incurable, but most are treatable and manageable if she gets diagnosed and treated in time.

As for marriage and children, if she's looking to get married, she should marry a man who she can confide in and tell about the rape before she gets married as there is no shame in it and it would be much better for her to know before marriage whether the rishta is man enough to accept her. If a brother is genuinely pious then he should not mind but he would be within his rights to ask as to whether she has been checked for STDs as it is a matter which could potentially affect his own health too.

If she does have an STD, then she should seek medical advice as to whether it can be passed on to children, what risks would be involved and what quality of life children can have under those circumstances. I have heard that children who have a parent with HIV are at low risk of catching it themselves but even if they do catch it (apparently if a mother has a certain illness, sometimes she is advised to not breastfeed the child as well but check with a doctor about this first), with early intervention and medication they can still often lead relatively normal lives.