What happens at clinic and your choices

If your Doctor at Archway Glasgow thinks it is necessary, you will be offered an FME.

A Forensic Medical Examination (FME) is a part of the healthcare process following a rape or sexual assault.

This is an examination which can collect evidence which may help with your investigation if you have reported to the police, or if you decide to go to the police at a later date.

The FME procedure will be carried out by a specially trained doctor or nurse called a Sexual Offences Examiner (SOE). They will collect evidence that can help with your investigation, should you decide to report this to the police.

Another nurse will also be in attendance to support you through the process and to assist the SOE when required.

Forensic (DNA) sampling using cotton wool swabs will be done at the site noted from the account of the incident. This might involve intimate (genital) examination depending on the account.

During an FME, Archway Glasgow staff will take into account the trauma you have experienced. When having an FME, you are always in control and can halt the procedure at any time.

The whole process takes around 2-3 hours, but the actual examination does not take this long. You are in control of the entire process and can decline if you do not wish to have an FME or part of it.

The SOE will advise what you should bring. This may include:

Sanitary wear, if you were using any at the time

Your toothbrush, if your assault involved forced oral sex and you have brushed your teeth since the incident

Some clothing

Any used condom or condom wrapper

Samples are gathered for potential evidence and if you are engaging with the police, the police will take the samples with them after the examination.

For a self-referral, the samples are gathered and stored within Archway Glasgow until you engage with the police or until the retention period (26 months) ends.

We offer health screens to check for any sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that may have been caused by the assault. This includes HIV. You may be offered Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

When you come into Archway Glasgow, it may be too early for us to test you for STIs. If this is the case, Archway Glasgow staff will arrange for you to go to Sandyford, your GP or a local Sexual Health Clinic in your area (whichever you prefer) at the appropriate time to get your tests.

Archway Glasgow staff can also provide emergency contraception if you need it and also carry out a pregnancy test if you think you are already pregnant.

Archway Glasgow support workers provide support for anyone affected by rape or sexual assault that have come to our service.

Our staff offer face-to-face support as well as telephone support for those who are struggling to leave their home. This support will help you work through the trauma of what has happened to you. This does not involve going over the incident, but instead works through your concerns and deals with how you feel after the assault.

If you have reported to the police, a support worker will also support you through the process if your case goes to court.