Speaking out: Journalist Connie Chung (pictured in 2016), 72, has revealed she was sexually assaulted five decades ago by her family doctor

Broadcast journalist Connie Chung has revealed she was sexually assaulted five decades ago by the family doctor who delivered her as a baby.

The 72-year-old spoke out about the abuse on Wednesday in an open letter addressed to Brett Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford, 51.

In it, she commends the psychology professor for taking a stand against the Supreme court nominee, 53, while explaining that she was 'terrified' to come forward publicly about her own assault at the hands of a 'monster'.

'Dear Christine Blasey Ford,' Chung wrote in the missive, which was published in the Washington Post. 'I, too, was sexually assaulted — not 36 years ago but about 50 years ago. I have kept my dirty little secret to myself. Silence for five decades.'

Chung described the molester as her 'trusted family doctor' who delivered her when she was born on August 20, 1946.

The journalist, then a college student, went to see the doctor in the 1960s to ask for birth control, at a time when she had never had a gynecological examination.

'The exact date and year are fuzzy. But details of the event are vivid — forever seared in my memory,' she wrote. 'Am I sure who did it? Oh yes, 100 per cent.'

Chung, then in her early 20s, was still a virgin when she went to see her family doctor to get birth-control pills, a diaphragm, or an IUD, and she describes herself as being a 'college coed but not that cool', having only 'advanced in the so-called heavy petting stage' when she was assaulted.

The Washington, D.C. native described the doctor's office, which was based in his home, 'a classic Georgetown 19th-century house, creaky wooden floors with worn velvet Victorian furniture'.

'Again, I cannot remember the exact date or even year. Yet I can still describe the following in detail,' she added.

'He drew the curtain, asking me to remove my clothes below the waist while he sat at his desk by the bay window. When I was ready, he came to the examination area and installed stirrups on one end of the cushioned examination table.'

Student: Chung (pictured in 1972 at age 25 when she was starting her career at CBS) was in college when she went to see her family doctor to ask for birth control

Chung, pictured in Beverly Hills in 1977 when she was 29, has three decades of experience in the industry as a respected journalist

The journalist said she found it 'extremely odd' to spread her legs and place her feet in the 'cold iron stirrups'.

'While I stared at the ceiling, his right index finger massaged my clitoris,' she wrote.

'With his right middle finger inserted in my vagina, he moved both fingers rhythmically.

'He coached me verbally in a soft voice, "Just breathe. Ah-ah," mimicking the sound of soft breathing. "You’re doing fine," he assured me.

'Suddenly, to my shock, I had an orgasm for the first time in my life. My body jerked several times. Then he leaned over, kissed me, a peck on my lips, and slipped behind the curtain to his office area.

'I don't remember saying anything to him. I could not even look at him. I quickly dressed and drove home.'

Chung said she 'may have told' one of her sisters about the assault at the time, but added that she 'certainly' didn't tell her parents, nor did she consider pursuing charges against the doctor.

'I did not report him to authorities. It never crossed my mind to protect other women,' she added, explaining that she was 'embarrassed about her sexual naivete' and this made her want to simply 'bury the incident in her mind and protect her family'.

Chung, who is married to television personality Maury Povich (together in 2016), said she later told her husband about the incident but couldn't recall exactly when she's brought up that she'd been abused

Chung and her husband, who share an adopted son, co-hosted Weekends with Maury and Connie in 2006

In order to avoid visiting the doctor ever again, Chung says she told her mother, who 'could not read or write English', that the medical professional lived 'too far away' from their home and they should therefore stop seeing him.

Chung, who married television personality Maury Povich in 1984, said she later told her husband about the incident but cannot recall exactly when she brought up that she had been abused.

Chung commended Dr Christine Blasey Ford (pictured testifying against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh before a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing September 27) for speaking out about her own assault

Chung continued in her letter that the haunting memory of the abuse remains fresh in her mind - even though she believes her abuser died almost 30 years ago, in his 80s, which would suggest he was in his 60s when the incident occured.

'Just yesterday, I found the house on Google Maps. Seeing it again, I freaked out,' she wrote.

The former CNN anchor said that the Harvey Weinstein scnadal and ensuing #MeToo movement had allowed her 'dirty little secret' to rear 'its ugly head'.

'I told anyone who would listen,' she explained.

But this was the first time she had revealed her allegations publicly, admitting she was terrified the revelations could cast her as a victim and mean her 'legacy as a television journalist for 30-plus years... is relegated to a footnote.'

She added that she sympathized with Dr Ford, and everything that she had risked to come forward with her allegations.

'Christine, I, too, am terrified as I reveal this publicly. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. Can you? If you can’t, I understand. I am frightened, I am scared, I can’t even cry.

'I don’t want to tell the truth. I must tell the truth.

'I wish I could forget this truthful event, but I cannot because it is the truth. I am writing to you because I know that exact dates, exact years are insignificant. We remember exactly what happened to us and who did it to us.

'We remember the truth forever. Bravo, Christine, for telling the truth.'

Born in Washington, D.C. to first generation immigrant parents, Chung a respected journalist with decades of experience in the field. Over her career, she has been an anchor and reporter for multiple networks, including NBC, CBS, CNN.

She has also hosted her own shows, including Eye to Eye with Connie Chung on CBS between 1993 and 1995, and later anchored Connie Chung Tonight on CNN from 2002 to 2003.

Chung and her husband, who share an adopted son, then co-hosted Weekends with Maury and Connie in 2006.

But the mother-of-one has not been seen on TV as much in recent years aside from the odd appearance as a veteran journalist, choosing to spend more time outside the spotlight, with her family.

She has courted controversy over the years, including in a 1995 interview with Kathleen Gingrich, where she was accused of coercing Gingrich to say negative things about Hillary Clinton.