Recognising signs of abuse

Physical signs that someone may have experienced sexual violence (especially recently) can include:

• unexplained bruising
• cuts and bruises and bleeding in the inner thighs or genital area
• unexplained difficulty walking
• problems urinating
• complaints about pain or discomfort from intimate areas
• stained underwear or bedlinen
• damage to clothing
• missing items such as underwear.

Many people who experience sexual violence do not have show any obvious physical injuries or signs of abuse so it’s important to recognise non-physical signs of sexual violence. Signs to look out for can include:

• anger or fear
• withdrawal
• not wanting to leave their home
• low self-esteem and loss of confidence
• refusing support from a carer with intimate needs
• self-harm
• not sleeping or nightmares
• increased smoking, drinking or drug taking.

There may be signs that someone is being sexually abused online. Signs to look out can include:

• spending more time than usual online, texting, or gaming
• seeming distant, upset, or angry after using the internet or texting
• being secretive about what they are doing online or who they are talking to
• having lots of new phone numbers, texts, or messages.

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