For 1 in 16 Women, Their First Experience Of Sexual Intercourse Is Rape

A study into 'forced sexual initiation' for women in the US has found that rape ‘appears to be [a] common’ way women first experience sexual intercourse. From the results of the study, this means more than 3.3 million American women were raped the first time they experienced penetrative sex.

The study, published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal, researched the prevalence of forced sexual initiation and its impact on reproductive, gynaecological and general health. They found that compared to women with ‘voluntary sexual initiation’, women who had been raped were 30% more likely to have an unwanted pregnancy.

Survivors also experienced more gynaecological conditions, with nearly 30% having problems with ovulation or menstruation and 10% experiencing endometriosis. Further to this, they were more likely to be unable to complete tasks because of a physical or mental health condition.

‘Forced sexual initiation in women appears to be common and associated with multiple adverse reproductive and general health outcomes,’ the study concluded. ‘These findings highlight the possible need for public health measures and sociocultural changes to prevent sexual violence, particularly forced sexual initiation.’

While the study was focused on the US, analysing 13,310 women aged 18 to 44, it raises questions about how prevalent this is around the world.

It means that in the UK, and around the world, we can’t possibly know just how endemic this issue is. Because, looking at the results of the study and knowing that more than one in three women experience sexual violence in their lifetime – we can’t help but wonder how much this figure actually underestimates the size of the problem globally.

‘The #MeToo movement has highlighted how frequently women experience sexual violence,’ the authors noted, ‘However, to date, no recent studies have assessed the prevalence of forced sex during girls' and women’s first sexual encounter or its health consequences.’

It's worth pointing out that most women do not report or visit a doctor after being raped – something that would be particularly hard if it’s your first sexual experience. For many of the research respondents, this was in their teens years.

The average age of women who had experienced forced sexual initiation was 15.6, with the average age of the assailant being six years their senior.

It speaks to a shocking problem that frankly, should drive a greater conclusion than just a ‘possible need for public health measures and sociocultural changes’.

At a time when rape prosecutions are at a record low in the UK, and the CPS is being sued for misjudging supposedly ‘weak’ evidence – by basing their judgements on potential jury opinions – we need legal changes alongside a public health focus on preventing sexual violence.

Read More: Facts about women around the world