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Sexual assault, also known as rape, happens when a person is forced to have sex that he or she didn't agree to. This includes intercourse in the vagina, anus, or mouth. Sometimes it happens when one person forces another to have sex. The Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN), reports that 16 percent of all women will be raped during their lifetime, and just over 3 percent of men will be raped during their lifetime.

Follow these links to better understand the signs of rape.

• RAINN: Types of Sexual Assault
• FamilyDoctor.org: What To Do If You've Been Raped

Many victims don't tell anyone about the incident of sexual assault because they feel it was their fault, or are too embarrassed, ashamed, or afraid to report it. It cannot be stressed enough that sexual assault and rape are never the victim’s fault. Talk to someone at a rape crisis center or hotline; your doctor; a loved one; and/or a mental health professional to find help right away:

• RAINN National Sexual Assault Online Hotline
• National Center for PTSD: Common Reactions After Trauma
• UCLA Medical Center: What to Do If You're Raped

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