Victims of sexual assault require appropriate care, follow-up and information regarding their legal rights. Clinicians are faced with the challenging responsibility of identifying victims and providing effective interventive and preventive counselling. The most pressing medical task is to confirm the assault and to undertake correct documentation and exhibition of biological traces. Performing colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy does not allow us to diagnose a sexual assault trauma, but it can help us to identify those microscopic lesions (due to the enhanced visualization and the higher resolution under which the genital areas are examined) that may not be seen during a normal clinical examination. The colposcopic and vulvovaginoscopic examination starts from the vulvar region looking for superficial lacerations and ecchymosis; the labia majora and minor are examined scrupulously, then the posterior forchette, the perineum and the hymen where it is possible to report microulcerations, contusions and even possible scars due to a precedent defloration. Recent advances in clinical forensic medicine show that trained examiners using colposcopy obtain evidence of genital trauma in 87% to 92% of rape victims. Colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy must be performed within 48 hours from the sexual assault, because most of the lesions heal rapidly. Colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy may be seen as a stressful invasion of a woman who is already vulnerable and at risk of the rape trauma syndrome. Prior information about colposcopy may reduce the level of anxiety experienced by many women undergoing this procedure. Incorporating colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy into the routine assessment of sexual assault victims could be a valid way of identifying genital injuries; moreover the medical report will be more detailed and precise.

Introducing colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy as routine examinations for victims of sexual assault / Mancino, Pasquale; E., Parlavecchio; Jessica, Melluso; Monti, Marco. - In: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY. - ISSN 0390-6663. - 30:1(2003), pp. 40-42.

Introducing colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy as routine examinations for victims of sexual assault

MANCINO, Pasquale;MONTI, Marco
2003

Abstract

Victims of sexual assault require appropriate care, follow-up and information regarding their legal rights. Clinicians are faced with the challenging responsibility of identifying victims and providing effective interventive and preventive counselling. The most pressing medical task is to confirm the assault and to undertake correct documentation and exhibition of biological traces. Performing colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy does not allow us to diagnose a sexual assault trauma, but it can help us to identify those microscopic lesions (due to the enhanced visualization and the higher resolution under which the genital areas are examined) that may not be seen during a normal clinical examination. The colposcopic and vulvovaginoscopic examination starts from the vulvar region looking for superficial lacerations and ecchymosis; the labia majora and minor are examined scrupulously, then the posterior forchette, the perineum and the hymen where it is possible to report microulcerations, contusions and even possible scars due to a precedent defloration. Recent advances in clinical forensic medicine show that trained examiners using colposcopy obtain evidence of genital trauma in 87% to 92% of rape victims. Colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy must be performed within 48 hours from the sexual assault, because most of the lesions heal rapidly. Colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy may be seen as a stressful invasion of a woman who is already vulnerable and at risk of the rape trauma syndrome. Prior information about colposcopy may reduce the level of anxiety experienced by many women undergoing this procedure. Incorporating colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy into the routine assessment of sexual assault victims could be a valid way of identifying genital injuries; moreover the medical report will be more detailed and precise.
2003
colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy; sexual assault
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Introducing colposcopy and vulvovaginoscopy as routine examinations for victims of sexual assault / Mancino, Pasquale; E., Parlavecchio; Jessica, Melluso; Monti, Marco. - In: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY. - ISSN 0390-6663. - 30:1(2003), pp. 40-42.
File allegati a questo prodotto
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/247945
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 0
  • Scopus 14
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact