Physical effects of sexual assault include bruises, genital injuries, STDs, and pregnancy (in women) in addition to psychological effects include anxiety, sadness, and suicide thoughts.
There could be long-term effects. Survivors may have recurrent issues with their reproductive, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and sexual health in addition to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Negative health practices are also associated with sexual violence.
Sexual violence survivors may experience work-related stress in the form of missed work, decreased productivity, job loss, or incapacity. These problems impair earning potential and have a long-term impact on survivors’ and their families’ financial security. It can be difficult to recover from victimization and carry out daily responsibilities. Reestablishing personal relationships, going back to work or school, and feeling normal again may be challenging for survivors.
Furthermore, there are links between sexual violence and other types of violence. For instance, girls who have experienced sexual abuse are more likely to become victims of intimate relationship violence as adults and to encounter other forms of violence, including sexual violence. There is a connection between early middle school bullying and high school sexual harassment.