VHA Social Work

Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) - VETERANS & PARTNERS - What Is IPV?

Sexual - Any attempted or completed sexual contact that is without the other person’s unpressured consent OR reproductive coercion.

Examples include:

• Forced sexual activity/rape
• Coercing an individual to engage in sexual activities
• Engaging in sexual activities without consent or when consent can not be given
• Touching or grabbing an individual in a sexual manner without consent

Reproductive coercion can include:

• Poking a hole in a condom
• Hiding birth control pills
• Taking out contraceptive rings or removing contraceptive patches
• Refusing to use a condom or other protection
• Ordering someone not to use birth control
• Shaming someone or threatening to harm them or leave them if they do not get pregnant or forcing someone to terminate a pregnancy or keep an unwanted pregnancy

Seek Help:

• Sexual Assault/Abuse can occur in any intimate relationship, including marriage.
• Some people experience only one form of intimate partner violence while others may experience many. Often IPV begins as infrequent mild emotional, verbal or controlling behavior, but it can escalate to become more frequent and severe. Intimate partner violence can be a single event or can occur on and off for many years. 
• You do not have to be sure you are experiencing or using intimate partner violence to receive help from the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program. 

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