After Care for Females

Please note: this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Please seek medical treatment after a sexual assault.

You should expect to have some period-type bleeding if you took morning-after pills. If this does not happen, please see the physician of your choice for assessment.

After your original tests, there is no follow-up needed for sexually transmitted infections, unless you have symptoms such as vaginal discharge with an odor, itching, or any unusual bleeding. 
 
You may have some or all of the following occur over the next several days. Suggestions for what to do are included.

How may my body respond?

Vaginal bleeding: You may have vaginal bleeding after the assault. If you received pregnancy prevention medications, such as the morning-after pills, you can have some breakthrough bleeding. If at any time you are concerned about the amount of bleeding, please seek medical advices as soon as possible.

Burning, itching, soreness in genital area: Soaking in warm, clean water two or three times a day may help. Keep you genital area clean and dry as well. If you notice an unusual discharge that does not go away, or any other problems, contact your physician as soon as possible.

Difficulty in urinating or burning: This is due to swelling of tissues. Drink plenty of fluids. Cranberry juice is good to drink. If you see blood in your urine, see your doctor immediately. If the burning lasts longer than 2 days, see your doctor.

Soreness and bruising to other parts of your body: Soreness may get worse over the 2-3 days after the assault, and will slowly start to improve. 

• Apply cold compresses to bruises for the first 24 hours, and then warm bath soaks may help. 
• You may take your usual over-the-counter pain relievers.

Anal soreness and difficulty having a bowel movement: It may be difficult and painful for up to 10 days or more. 

• Drink lots of fluids (8 glasses per day)
• Add fiber to your diet (bran, prunes)
• Use stool softener

Cuts and sores inside your mouth: These should heal within 2 weeks.

• Rinse your mouth out 3 times a day with salt water
• Avoid citrus and spicy foods

Cuts to other parts of your body.

• Keep areas clean and dry, apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage.

How am I medically protected?

Treatments of STIs

You can expect to have the following done if needed:

• Swabs of areas and results available within three days
• Given Azithromycin: 1g (4 capsules), Cefixime: 400 mg (1 tablet) or other medications depending on your medical history

Protection from and immunization for Hepatitis B:

• Check to see if you are already immunized.
• A blood sample will be taken to check you antibody level
• Provide medications needed for protection as ordered by a physician.

HIV preventive treatment: 

• Blood sample for an HIV test will be taken. (This test will not show HIV from this assault exposure. To be 99% accurate, a blood test should be taken again at 3 months.)
• HIV post-exposure preventive treatment may be given

HIV Medication: If you take HIV medication, you will need to see the physician of your choice as soon as possible so that the rest of your medications can come from St. Paul's Hospital. See the information pack given with the medications. Do not stop the medications without checking with you physician first. Sometimes the doses can be changed so you do not have as many side effects. When you see a physician, you may have your HIV medications stopped, or continued or have another mediation started. This re-evaluation is always necessary.

Other medications:

• Protection from Tetanus/Diptheria

Take care of yourself. You will get through this trying time.