Hawks L, et al. - Researchers conducted a cross-sectional, nationally representative study of 13,310 American women aged 18 to 44 years, to assess the prevalence of forced sexual initiation among women and girls in the United States. In addition, they investigated how it is associated with reproductive, gynecologic, and general health outcomes. Forced sexual initiation was reported by 6.5% of these women (mean age at forced sexual initiation, 15.6 years). Compared with women with voluntary sexual initiation, women with forced sexual initiation more frequently experienced an unwanted first pregnancy or an abortion, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and problems with ovulation or menstruation. Illicit drug use, fair or poor health, and difficulty completing tasks owing to a physical or mental health condition were more frequently reported by survivors of forced sexual initiation. These findings suggest a common occurrence of forced sexual initiation among women and its association with multiple adverse reproductive and general health outcomes.