title: Detection of two biological markers of intercourse: prostate-specific antigen and Y-chromosomal DNA.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jamshidi
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Penman-Aguilar
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiener
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zenilman
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Melendez
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Snead
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Denise J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macaluso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y; D003075:Coitus / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D014621:Vagina; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen
keywords: Clearance; Prostate-specific antigen; Semen biomarkers; Y-chromosome DNA
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