After Care for Males

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

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) symptoms to look for:

• Trouble urinating
• White discharge from penis
• Pain on one side of the scrotum
• Swelling of scrotum
• Rectal discharge
• Pain while having a bowel movement
• Open sore on penis, mouth or rectum
• Burning or tingling around mouth, genital or anal areas
• Throat infections

If you see any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.

How may my body respond?

Burning, itching, or soreness in the urethra and anus. Urethra soreness and burning may occur when urinating, and may result from the tests for STIs. See a doctor if the soreness gets worse or does not go away after ten days. Anal spotting happens and should disappear within a few days. If bleeding continues, see your doctor immediately. Soaking in warm water or placing a warm, clean cloth on the sore area will help soothe the burning, itching, or soreness.

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
• Apply numbing cream

Cuts and soreness 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

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.

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?

Treatment 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 may be taken to check you antibody level .
• Provide medications 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. 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.