Asked if a woman who could not remember whether she had consented to sex should not automatically report the incident as a crime, Mrs Saunders said: “I’m saying she should think about it and maybe talk to some support groups.
“If she thinks there may have been an offence she should certainly talk to the police.”
The DPP was not confining her comments to so-called stranger rapes because the CPS has repeatedly made clear that any sexual intercourse without consent can be an offence, including those inside a relationship.
Mrs Saunders added: “It’s not for the man to prove his innocence, it’s for us to prove his guilt.

“We would look at that and see if there’s enough evidence to take it before the court.
“We would normally look at other evidence of how drunk someone was – if we’ve got CCTV evidence of someone falling out of a nightclub looking incapacitated, for example.”
Mrs Saunders' comments came as the CPS launched a new social media campaign encouraging members of the public to contribute their definitions of consent - under the hashtag #ConsentIs - in conjunction with groups including Rape Crisis and the End Violence against Women Coalition.
Earlier this year the CPS issued new guidelines to police setting out how they should treat the issue of sexual consent.
The law already states consent must be given fully and freely, but the new guidance told officers to look at a wider context.
For example, it said behaviour such as staying silent or using contraception did not indicate a partner had given consent to intercourse.
The CPS said it would help dispel "myths and stereotypes" about rape.
Mrs Saunders also said Scotland Yard had "overstepped the mark" by describing the claims of a witness who claims he was sexually abused by VIPs as "credible and true".
The comments were made last December by a senior officer leading the force's Operation Midland investigation into claims of a Westminster paedophile ring.