Sexual Assault Medical Care and Forensic Evidence Collection
If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
If you have been sexually assaulted, call any of the numbers below, which are available 24/7
Universal Emergency Number
Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency.
91124/7 UHS Nurse Advice Line
Call the 24/7 UHS Nurse Advice Line to speak with a registered nurse about whether or how soon you should seek medical attention.
512-475-687724/7 SAFEline
The 24/7 SAFEline is a confidential line is for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking and abuse.
Call: 512-267-7233 Text: 737-888-7233Sexual Assault Medical Care Appointments
Sexual assault medical care appointments are available to all students. Appointments will NOT result in a report to law enforcement or the Title IX Office, unless you elect to do so. The law does require that UHS reports anonymous (non-identifying) information to the University if a student receives a sexual assault medical care appointment at UHS. However, this is NOT the same as informing or filing a report with the police or with the Title IX Office.
To schedule, call UHS at 512-471-4955. If it is after hours or on the weekend, call the 24/7 Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-6877.
This exam is performed by specially trained medical staff members. During this appointment, this exam may include the following.
- A physical exam
- STI risk assessment and treatment, as indicated
- Pregnancy risk assessment and emergency contraception, as indicated
- Assistance in connecting with campus support resources
- Assistance with planning your next steps and helping you feel safe and empowered
Please note that no forensic evidence is collected during this exam.
There are no office visit or lab work charges for these exams to be completed at UHS, regardless of your insurance status. You may incur charges for medications prescribed for treatment, depending on your insurance status.
Please note that these exams are not completed at UHS; however, UHS can assist you in locating a local emergency room to provide a forensic exam.
Forensic evidence collection must occur within 120 hours (five days) of the sexual assault. You do not have to report the assault to law enforcement in order to have this exam — that decision is yours. If you choose not to report at the time of the exam, the evidence can be preserved for up to five years, allowing you time to decide whether you would like to make a report later.
Forensic evidence collection exams are performed by a specially trained medical staff member.
To prepare for the exam, refrain from the actions listed below as these may help in collecting evidence. If you have done any of these actions, it is okay. You can still have the forensic exam completed.
- Bathing or showering
- Discarding the clothing you were wearing during and/or after the assault
- Washing your hands
- Brushing your teeth
- Going to the bathroom
- Eating or drinking
During the appointment, this exam may include:
- Medical care
- Administration and/or prescribing medications to help prevent infection or pregnancy
- Talking about the assault
- Checking for injuries that can be photographed
- Swabbing the skin
- Collecting clothing
- Taking blood and urine samples
- Assistance with planning your next steps and helping you feel safe and empowered
Support During and After Your Exam
Under Texas law, hospitals are required to provide forensic medical examinations to survivors of sexual assault. Survivors also have the right to be accompanied by a trained advocate during that process. Survivors have access to SAFE Austin’s 24/7 advocacy and accompaniment services to provide support, meet you at the hospital and help you understand your options. Survivors can reach SAFE at any time: Call 512-267-7233, Text 737-888-7233, or Chat at safeaustin.org/chat.
HIV Exposure
If you are worried you may have been exposed to HIV, immediately call the 24/7 UHS Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-6877 to be evaluated for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP is only effective within 72 hours after exposure.