Detection of two biological markers of intercourse: prostate-specific antigen and Y-chromosomal DNA.
BACKGROUND
Although biological markers of women's exposure to semen from vaginal intercourse have been developed as surrogates for risk of infection or probability of pregnancy, data on their persistence time and clearance are limited.


STUDY DESIGN
During 2006-2008, 52 couples were enrolled for three 14-day cycles of abstinence from vaginal sex during which women were exposed in the clinic to a specific quantity (10, 100 or 1000 μL) of their partner's semen. Vaginal swabs were collected before and at 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 144 h after exposure for testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and Y-chromosome DNA (Yc DNA).


RESULTS
Immediately after exposure to 1000 μL of semen, the predicted sensitivity of being PSA positive was 0.96; this decreased to 0.65, 0.44, 0.21 and 0.07 at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h, respectively. Corresponding predicted sensitivity of being Yc DNA positive was 0.72 immediately postexposure; this increased to 0.76 at 1 h postexposure and then decreased to 0.60 (at 6 h), 0.63 (at 12 h), 0.49 (at 24 h), 0.21 (at 48 h), 0.17 (at 72 h) and 0.12 (at 144 h).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall findings suggest that PSA may be more consistent as a marker of very recent exposure and that Yc DNA is more likely to be detected in the vagina after 12 h postexposure compared to PSA.
['Jamshidi|Roxanne|R|', 'Penman-Aguilar|Ana|A|', 'Wiener|Jeffrey|J|', 'Gallo|Maria F|MF|', 'Zenilman|Jonathan M|JM|', 'Melendez|J H|JH|', 'Snead|Margaret|M|', 'Black|Carolyn M|CM|', 'Jamieson|Denise J|DJ|', 'Macaluso|Maurizio|M|']
D000328:Adult D015415:Biomarkers D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y D003075:Coitus D004247:DNA D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen D012661:Semen D014621:Vagina D014626:Vaginal Smears
Prostate-specific antigen Y-chromosome DNA Clearance Semen biomarkers