Gisele Pelicot has courageously shared devastating new details about the profound and lasting health consequences stemming from the horrific abuse she endured at the hands of 51 men. The 73-year-old grandmother, who became a global symbol of resilience against sexual violence, reveals that the trauma continues to impact her physical wellbeing years after the landmark trial.
Medical Diagnosis Reveals Ongoing Trauma
Just before Christmas, Gisele received distressing medical news that directly connects to the sexual violence she suffered. Doctors confirmed she has contracted Human Papillomavirus (HPV) as a direct result of the assaults perpetrated by her husband and his co-defendants. During her most recent cervical screening, medical professionals discovered abnormal cells that required immediate intervention.
The diagnosis led to a biopsy and subsequent surgical procedure where a section of her cervix had to be completely removed. This medical revelation adds another layer to the already extensive physical and psychological damage documented in her powerful new autobiography, A Hymn to Life.
Hidden Injuries and Misdiagnosed Symptoms
Gisele's memoir details numerous health issues that went unexplained for years, all stemming from the abuse she endured without her knowledge. In one particularly harrowing account, she describes a dental crown becoming loose, only to later discover this injury resulted from oral rape.
For decades, she experienced confusing gynecological symptoms including an inflamed cervix that doctors repeatedly treated with pessaries without identifying the root cause. The memory lapses caused by her husband drugging her led to multiple misdiagnoses from medical professionals who suspected everything from stroke to Alzheimer's disease, with one doctor attributing her symptoms to anxiety.
Family Fractures and Complicated Relationships
The crimes committed by Dominique Pelicot and the 50 men convicted alongside him have created deep fractures within the Pelicot family. Gisele's eldest son, David, 51, describes how the abuse has "annihilated" their family unit. Currently, mother and son are not speaking, with Gisele acknowledging that relationships with two of her children have become incredibly complicated since their father's trial.
"I think he needs time. He's the eldest," Gisele explained. "I think that, on top of everything else, they're men. As men, they have questions. Also, they have their father's DNA. It's complicated. I'm giving [David] time to come back to me, if he wants to. I don't want to be intrusive. I want to give him time to heal."
Daughter's Trauma and Family Dynamics
The family tragedy extends to Gisele's daughter, Caroline, 47, who was also victimized by Dominique's crimes. Photographic evidence recovered from her father's devices showed Caroline unconscious while wearing unfamiliar underwear. Although Dominique was convicted for possessing these photographs, he denied abusing his daughter in court.
Caroline now lives with unbearable uncertainty about what else may have occurred. "What Caroline is going through is extremely painful," Gisele revealed. "There are these doubts that condemn her to a perpetual hell, and to be condemned to that is appalling."
Following the four-month trial that resulted in Dominique's 20-year prison sentence, Caroline accused her mother of abandonment. Gisele explains she was emotionally exhausted by the legal proceedings and hopes her daughter eventually receives answers from her father.
"You have to understand that such a tragedy doesn't necessarily bring a family together," Gisele reflected. "It's a cataclysm that sweeps everything away. Everyone needs to be able to rebuild themselves in their own way."
A Beacon of Resilience and Advocacy
Despite the ongoing health challenges and family complexities, Gisele Pelicot continues to serve as a powerful voice for survivors worldwide. In her interview with British Vogue, she expressed concern that Caroline has been severely traumatized by viewing videos and photographs of her mother's abuse.
"My wish is that Caroline's suffering diminishes with time," she said. "For her sake and for her family's, especially her son. Being positive, for me, means fighting against suffering and anger. It doesn't mean forgetting or forgiving, nor minimising or denying harm and violence. It means fighting so they don't win, so they don't destroy all generations."
Gisele's journey from unaware victim to global advocate represents both the devastating consequences of sexual violence and the remarkable resilience of survivors. Her medical revelations underscore how physical health consequences can persist long after legal proceedings conclude, while her family's experience demonstrates how such trauma reverberates through generations.
