If you have been raped or sexually assaulted you might be at risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
The Saint Mary’s SARC team can give you advice on how to get screened for these infections. They can give you advice on when you should be tested and where you can go for these tests. Sexually transmitted infections can have a major impact on your health, so it is important to receive the right medical treatment as soon as possible.
We run regular STI clinics at SARC for young children.
We offer free sexual health screening tests for a number of different infections, these may include:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- HIV and AIDS
- Hepatitis B
- Syphilis
Your forensic doctor will discuss the tests with you. You can also discuss these with your Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA). We will also advise you of any follow up required and offer counseling where appropriate.
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
There may be a risk in some cases that a victim could become infected with HIV or Hepatitis B.
The medical treatment PEP that can reduce this risk.
For HIV this medication should be started as soon as possible after the attack, and at most within 72 hours.
For Hepatitis B it should be started within 6 weeks of the attack.
The forensic doctor will talk to you about whether this treatment is the best choice for you. We can provide it if you choose to have it.
For HIV you will need to take tablets for 28 days. Saint Mary’s Centre will give you the first 5 days of tablets. We will help you arrange an appointment with a GUM clinic of your choice who will look after you for the rest of the month.
For Hepatitis B PEP you will need a course of injections (in your arm). The Saint Mary’s Centre doctor can give you the first of these and the others you can get from your GP or a GUM clinic. We will help you with this.