title: Current issues in the use of colposcopy for examination of sexual assault victims.
abstract: Colposcopic examination is considered the gold standard in child sexual abuse evaluations in Australia. However, there remain contentious issues with its use, especially in adult victims, which we sought to address by a review of the literature. Colposcopy has been shown to be a sensitive and acceptable tool for detection of anogenital abnormalities in children. The significance of some genital findings remains controversial, especially when images are interpreted by inexperienced clinicians. Its use in adult assessments is hampered by a lack of comparative studies on colposcopically detected genital injuries in adults following consensual v. non-consensual sexual intercourse. Further research is urgently needed before the use of colposcopy can be routinely recommended for adult victims.
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health Service, Greater Western Area Health Service, 203 Brisbane St, Dubbo, NSW 2830, Australia. david.templeton@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Templeton
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003127:Colposcopy; D019548:Crime Victims; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011902:Rape / Q000175:diagnosis*