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Sexual assault in postmenopausal women.

S M Ramin¹, A J Satin, I C Stone

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

Obstetrics and Gynecology

|November 11, 1992

Summary

Postmenopausal women experiencing sexual assault are more prone to genital injuries compared to younger victims. Forensic evidence, like spermatozoa, is most viable within six hours post-assault for older women.

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Area of Science:

Forensic Medicine
Gerontology
Public Health

Background:

Sexual assault affects women of all ages.
Understanding injury patterns in postmenopausal victims is crucial for medical and legal contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze patient characteristics, injury patterns, forensic evidence, and sexual assault frequency in postmenopausal rape victims.
Compare findings with a younger comparison group.

Main Methods:

Retrospective review of medical and forensic records for 129 postmenopausal women (≥50 years) and 129 younger women (14-49 years) reporting sexual assault.
Statistical analyses included Student t test, chi-squared, logistic regression, and Fisher exact test.

Main Results:

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Postmenopausal women comprised 2.2% of sexual assault victims; they were more often white, while younger victims were more often black.

Genital trauma was significantly more common in postmenopausal women (43% vs. 18%), including abrasions, edema, and lacerations requiring surgery.

Extragenital trauma was more frequent in younger victims (66% vs. 49%).

Motile spermatozoa were detected in postmenopausal women only when examined within 6 hours of the assault.

Conclusions:

Postmenopausal women are at a higher risk of sustaining genital trauma following sexual assault.
Timely forensic examination is critical for evidence collection in older victims.