Doctors taught to recognize partner, spouse abuse

(CBS News) According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly one in five women has been raped. In more than half the cases, the rapist was an intimate partner.

On Tuesday, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) put out new guidelines for doctors for dealing with both rape and sexual abuse.

The report details what's being called "birth control sabotage," or men interfering with contraception. For example: Poking holes in a condom or throwing away birth control pills.

In one study of women's clinics in northern California, birth control sabotage was reported by 15 percent of young women.

CBS "Evening News" anchor Scott Pelley talks with CBS medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook about what the new report says and how doctors can better help patients who are victims of birth control sabotage.

Scott Pelley: Is there any research on why a man would do that?

Dr. Jon LaPook: I spoke with a doctor today who is national expert on this subject, and she said it's all about power -- a man controlling a woman's body. Men who do this are more likely to be violent with women. One practical recommendation is if a doctor sees a women with an unintended pregnancy, ask about sexual violence, which is four times more likely in women with unintended pregnancies.

Pelley: What else is the ACOG suggesting?

LaPook: Give out a card that has very simple questions to increase awareness. For example: Does my partner mess with my birth control or try to get me pregnant when I don't want to be? Does my partner make me have sex when I don't want to? And Scott, this works. It significantly lowers the odds of a woman being pressured against her will to become pregnant.

Pelley: It sounds like doctors, like you, are being asked to be a lot more proactive with women on this topic.

LaPook: And not just picking up the signs when a woman comes in and has a history of violence -- also of educating women, of empowering them.

Click here to view the reproductive health safety card.

[gjc1n1]

Sexual abuse by either sex is always wrong. Attempts to impregnat a woman or a woman falsely claiming use of contraception, should be a prosecutable offense. In those instances, the man or woman should use their own back-up contraception. And what kind of relationship is there when a partner cannot trust the other? Find someone else or zip the pants or close the legs, whatever the case may be. That said, it's a lot more likely to happen to a women if for no other reason than in most instances a man is physically stronger than a woman.

[SharonBollum]

I think you're assuming that abusers have horns or some other way to easily recognize them as predators. The worst abusers in these cases are exceedingly manipulative and gain their control over time persuading the woman to trust them. You don't have to be stupid to be a victim. Assuming "she must have seen it coming" is a very dangerous assumption.

[cleric77]

CSI Special Victims Unit had a show about a male who would poke holes in condoms prior to him making love with the females he was dating. He had lots of kids. Very sad --another example of us living in an amoral sexual society.

[SharonBollum]

That episode was based on this same research :)

[peacefulperson]

Why stay with a man like that? Leave him, and either get a man who is a man, or just live for yourself. You don't need a partner to have a happy life.

[hkt001]

it's all about power -- a man controlling a woman's body ... Sounds like politicians

[MRPAULGE0RGE]

It's funny the insinuation that a man should be charged with rape if he supposedly "sabotages" BC but why is the opposite never true?

What about a substantial minority of men who are victims of abuse?

Double standards are crap.

[Woodworkerwaynew]

MrPaul, do a little websearching - start with emergency room stats - you'll be surprised to find the spousal abuse is about 50/50 in terms of the gender of the victim ! Men tend to under-report when their partners beat the crap out of them, and society has become so "normalized" to the notion of "man"="bad"

[SharonBollum]

Come on you guys! This in no way supposes that these abuses revealed in the study are the ONLY abuses taking place between men and women. This is valuable research that has tremendous potential to inform and prepare women to protect themselves from THIS particular abuse.

[dj4240]

What about men that's been abused by a women ?? This happens all the time...Women are not always the victim !!!

[MamaKisha]

You're correct, no one should be a victim of abuse.
Carry your own condoms. Use them.

[KotsChopShop]

what a crock of fictitious ish; it's more like 3% of men that actually carry out this supposed sabotage - looking at it with just the smallest amount of experience, common sense and objectivity, it's blindingly easy to see the remaining 12% are females lying about their own sabotaging and blame shifting it onto their spouses

hey, here's an idea; let's instead educate the masses and focus on bridling the 55% of females that poke holes in condoms, stop taking their birth controls pills without telling their spouses, and convince their partners to not use condoms all in the name of a free ride and meal ticket.. and then we'll all lie about it during surveys which creates false data that subsequently makes it to Scott Pelley's teleprompter

[peacefulperson]

55% huh? Where'd you invent this statistic? Is it like Barney Stimson's 83% rule? Do you think it makes you look smart, strong or brave? It really makes you look bitter, abusive and mean.

[MamaKisha]

Cary your own condoms.

[jamesdickason]

Yeah, but they won't do anything about it. Pay as you leave--