ABSTRACT
Childhood sexual abuse affects a significant number of men, making it necessary for healthcare providers who treat male health issues to alter their practice to meet the needs of these men. There is voluminous data to show that childhood sexual abuse has long-term effects on the overall physical and mental wellbeing of adult survivors. Healthcare providers must first learn to identify survivors of childhood sexual abuse, because most will not divulge this information readily. Once a history of abuse has been established, it is imperative for physicians to alter their clinical practice to accommodate survivors so their patients feel safe, empowered, and heard. Abused children will struggle to understand why abuse happened to them. Having a non-abusive relationship with a healthcare provider fosters mutual trust and promotes long-term health success by allowing a survivor to feel taken care of in an adult relationship with his physician, based on that trust.
