Dear Nicegirl13,

Anytime a person is made to perform a sex act against her or his will, it is rape. All of the following are crimes when anyone, including a partner or spouse, does them without the other person's consent:

• Penetration of a victim's anus or vagina. The penetration may be with a body part, such as finger or penis, or by an object.



• Sexual penetration of the victim's mouth.



• Intentionally touching a victim's intimate parts, such as buttocks, inner thigh, breasts, sex organs.



• Making a victim touch someone else's sex organs.



• Contact between the mouth of one person and the sex organs of another.

Rape can be very painful and difficult to deal with, but you have already taken the first step — you're reaching out for help. Remember that healing from rape takes a while, so give yourself the time you need to deal with the hurt you feel inside. It is important to continue talking about the rape, even if it happened a while ago. You can call the RAINN hotline for free, confidential, counseling 24 hours a day at 1-800-656-HOPE.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.