Synopsis
Recognise reproductive coercion and connected abuse, create a safe private opportunity for disclosure, address urgent health needs, and share information through lawful, proportionate adult and child safeguarding pathways.
- Reproductive coercion includes pregnancy pressure, contraception sabotage, condom interference, forced sex, control of fertility care and pressure to continue or end a pregnancy; it often sits within wider domestic abuse.
- Ask in private, without a partner, family member or child interpreting: ‘Has anyone frightened you, hurt you or tried to control your contraception, pregnancy or healthcare choices?’
- Explain confidentiality before detailed disclosure: most information remains private, but immediate serious harm, children at risk, some adults at risk and specific statutory duties can require proportionate sharing.
Key red flags
Non-fatal strangulation, loss of consciousness, neurological symptoms, voice change, dysphagia or breathing difficulty can precede delayed airway or vascular complications and requires emergency assessment.
Strangulation, weapon threats, stalking, escalating assaults or threats to kill indicate immediate serious risk even when visible injury is limited.
Investigation priorities
Enable a voluntary account of fear, violence, sexual harm and reproductive control.
Management branches
Behaviour, injury, reproductive history or a direct statement raises coercion or abuse.
- Move to a private setting with an independent interpreter, explain confidentiality limits and ask direct but non-judgemental questions about safety and reproductive control.
- Validate the account, assess immediate danger, strangulation, sexual assault, children and safe destination, and provide emergency treatment or police response when necessary.