title: Hymenal characteristics in girls with and without a history of sexual abuse.
abstract: This article reviews the recent literature on physical findings related to the hymen in pubertal and prepubertal girls with and without a history of sexual abuse. Characteristics of normal hymenal anatomy, acute traumatic findings, and characteristics of healed trauma are discussed, particularly with regard to changes in the interpretation of these findings that have occurred over time.
authors.affiliation: Child Crisis Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California 90509, USA. sthompso@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Sara T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006924:Hymen / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology