Options After Sexual Assault

MUSC Health offers medical and mental health services to adults who have been sexually assaulted. Our mission is to provide every person, who has been assaulted, with the help they deserve.

What Should I Do After a Sexual Assault?

If you want to make a police report, call 911 immediately.

The 911 operator will contact local law enforcement and send officers to take your report. The police can assist you with getting a sexual assault medical forensic exam conducted at MUSC's adult emergency department. 

Save all physical evidence, using a paper bag (not plastic).

Even if you are unsure about whether you want to make a police report, you can still choose to have evidence collected. It is recommended that you do not shower, bathe, wash your hands, eat, drink, or brush your teeth before you have a medical examination for sexual assault. Save all the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault in the paper (not plastic) bag. 

If you do not want to make a police report, or you are unsure, seek medical care right away.

After a sexual assault, a medical exam is important for your own personal health and well-being. MUSC provides emergency medical services, free of charge, within 120 hours (five days) after the sexual assault. This exam includes medications for pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, and can also include DNA evidence collection (if you choose). Patients do not need to report to the police to receive an exam. Sexual assault medical forensic exams are performed free of charge by MUSC's team of nurses who are specifically trained to provide care to sexual assault survivors. Please note that there may be a cost associated with any medical care beyond a sexual assault medical forensic exam.

Visit the Emergency Services page for more information. 

Call Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. for 24/7 crisis support.

Call 843-745-0144 at any time, both day and night, for free crisis support. Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. is our local sexual assault crisis center and can offer support and answer any questions you may have. If you choose to receive a sexual assault medical forensic exam, advocates from Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. can meet with you at MUSC's adult emergency department to provide support and answer questions.

Visit the Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. page for more information.

For help following sexual assault, reach out to MUSC's Sexual Assault Services Team.

MUSC offers help to people who have experienced sexual assault within the past 3 months, free of charge. Sexual Assault Services can assist with scheduling medical follow-up exams and help with commonly experienced emotions and reactions following sexual assault. Sexual Assault Services offers trauma therapy for people who have experienced sexual assault at any point in their lives.

Visit the Sexual Assault Services page for more information. 

Reach out to someone you trust. 

Reach out to a friend, family member, or someone else you trust for support. 

Additional Support

For additional information, please watch our video about our services. 

For information about common reactions to sexual assault and tips with recovery, visit our page on Common Reactions. 

For more information about how you can support a loved one who has experienced sexual assault, visit our page on Social Support.

For resources for children ho have experienced sexual assault, please visit: MUSC Children's Health Child Abuse team. 

Our Care Team

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE)

For more information call 843-792-3391

• Offers emergency medical services within 5 days (120 hours) of rape. 

Sexual Assault Services at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center

Call or text our coordinator Katie Mai at 843-860-5508 or email maik@musc.edu.

• Offers comprehensive care for recent sexual assault survivors including:
  • Case management
  • Mental health services
  • Assistance with scheduling medical appointments and STI testing
• Trauma therapy to sexual assault survivors. Trauma therapy can be provided any time after the sexual assault, even if it was years ago or occurred when the person was a child.