Résumé
Methodological challenges regarding self-reported sexual behaviour have resulted in interest in dependable biomarkers to replace or support these data. Y-chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (Yc-DNA) biomarkers have been developed to detect DNA unique to the male genome from male epithelial cells and sperm found in the vagina following condomless penetrative sex [3, 4].
Previous studies evaluating Yc-DNA biomarkers have shown that it can provide a reliable alternative to selfreported data, however, these studies have been limited by small sample sizes. Across studies, validity of Yc-DNA has been reported to be between 87 and 100% when tested the day after condomless sex and can be detected with sufficient sensitivity for 14-15 days following condomless sex [5]. Ghanem et al. [6] showed Yc-DNA to have a specificity of 92% in a study of 54 women in the United States. Brotman et al. [7] determined the half-life of Yc-DNA to 3.8 days and could be detected for 15 days in a study of 51 women in