Sexual exploitation can have a positive side at first (e.g. the feeling of belonging to a group, providing for oneself, having money, etc.). Over time, however, young people who extricate themselves from the lifestyle say they are left to deal with negative consequences that can have an impact on different aspects of their lives:

• Psychological and emotional: low self-esteem, emotional distress, traumatic memories, shame, fear, etc.
• Social and relational: distrust of others, isolation, being judged, trouble developing relationships, etc.
• Physical and sexual: alcohol and drug addiction, sleep disorder, skewed perception of sexuality, STDs and unwanted pregnancies, etc.
• Living conditions: trouble finding a job, poverty, dropping out of school, etc.