Answer:
by Raven James: (09/10/2007)
The act of being raped in and of itself will not necessarily prevent you from becoming pregnant, unless there was some type of damage done to your reproductive system. In order to determine if the rape has affected your fertility, consider the following: 1) was there physical damage caused by the rape, for example, use of an object which caused tearing of tissue, trauma, or bleeding;
2) did you acquire a sexually transmitted infection as a result of the rape?;
3) did the rape cause such stress and trauma that has affected your daily functioning?
Physical damage to your reproductive organs could impact your ability to conceive, as could an untreated sexually transmitted infection. Did you receive any STI testing after the incident? Have you discussed the incident with your OB/GYN and had a full exam to rule out physical issues related to the above-mentioned questions?
With regard to stress, the resulting stress from such a traumatic event, coupled with stress over inability to conceive can sometimes affect a woman's fertility. Did you receive any counseling to help you deal with this event? Not knowing the specifics of your situation, I would explore some of these issues to start. A full exam and STI screening would be helpful to rule out infections or physical explanations.
If you have not received any counseling, I would suggest a local rape and abuse center for counseling and referrals. Stress can affect a woman's ability to conceive, and sometimes counseling can help resolve post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over time.
Lastly, has your partner ruled out any physical issues? Sometimes, a man has low sperm count, or other fertility issues that prevent him from reproducing. It could be a combination of these issues also. Good luck on your journey. If you have concerns which were not answered, please write back.Reviewed by: Patricia Fawver Ph.D. in Sexology
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