Recent Semen Exposure Impacts the Cytokine Response and Bacterial Vaginosis in Women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The presence of semen in the vagina from unprotected sex may influence the immune and microbial environment of the female genital tract. Inflammatory cytokine concentrations and BV-associated bacteria in female genital secretions may influence HIV risk, although the effect of recent sexual intercourse on incident BV and the cytokine milieu of cervicovaginal secretions has rarely been measured in previous studies. Here, we investigated the extent to which partner semen impacts the cytokine response and incident BV.

Methods

At baseline, we assessed the recency of semen exposure in menstrual cup supernatants by quantifying prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels using ELISA in 248 HIV-uninfected women at high risk for HIV infection. Luminex was used to measure 48 cyto

SUBMITTER: Mngomezulu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8221111 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature