Immediate Steps

The first few days after a sexual assault can be a very confusing time.  You may have questions and be faced with difficult decisions.  During this time you may not want, or be ready, to make many of these decisions.  This is normal and okay.

You can call us to talk about your options.

The sooner you get to the hospital after an assault, the greater your options will be.

Within 5 days or 120 hours of an assault:

You can visit a hospital emergency room. Some hospitals participate in the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. These nurses are highly trained and have considerable experience working with survivors of sexual assault. Find a  SANE hospital near you.  If going to a SANE hospital is not possible, all hospital emergency rooms in Massachusetts can help you and should follow the same protocol:

• Preventative treatments for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections are more effective the sooner you go to the hospital.
• Evidence collection is an option. You do not need to report to the police to have evidence collected but, if you do have evidence collected, you may have more options in the future.
• Toxicology testing is available within the first 96 hours after an assault if there are signs that drugs or alcohol may have facilitated the assault.

Anytime after 5 days or 120 hours of an assault:

It is best to visit your own primary healthcare provider or a health clinic for care. If you do not have a provider, or don't want to go to them about the sexual assault, contact us and we can  help you find appropriate medical care.

• Preventative treatments for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections can still be effective.
• You still have the option to report to the police.  Contact us to find out more about filing a police report and other legal issues.
• You can still get support by calling us.

No matter what decisions you make, know that you have done the best that you can.

No one deserves to be sexually assaulted. Call us. We can help.