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. 2010 Jan;37(1):1-4.
doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181b5f15d.

Effect of menses on clearance of Y-chromosome in vaginal fluid: implications for a biomarker of recent sexual activity

Rebecca M Brotman  1 , Johan H Melendez, Tukisa D Smith, Noya Galai, Jonathan M Zenilman
Affiliations

Effect of menses on clearance of Y-chromosome in vaginal fluid: implications for a biomarker of recent sexual activity

Rebecca M Brotman et al. Sex Transm Dis. 2010 Jan.

Abstract

Self-reported sexual behaviors are subject to bias. We previously developed a polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Y-chromosome sequences in vaginal fluid as a potential biomarker of recent sexual activity. In this study, we found menses results in lower Y-chromosome concentrations but with similar decay patterns as non-menstrual samples.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Average decline over time in Y-chromosome DNA during menses and non-menses intervals. The fitted line is based on a nonparametric lowess trend line.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Decline over 14 days in Y-chromosome DNA during menses and non-menses intervals by participant. Displayed are participants with even identification numbers and more than one observation. This figure points to the heterogeneity among the women in both initial levels and rate of decline. This heterogeneity was accounted for in the models by including additional explanatory variables and random effects for individual factors that were not measured.
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