According to a new study, bacteria specific to each individual would be exchanged between the partners during a sexual intercourse, even if it is protected by the wearing of the condom.
- Sexoma is a specific mixture of genital bacteria specific to each individual.
- During a sexual intercourse, some genital bacteria of the sexoma are exchanged between the two partners.
- This exchange of bacteria is reduced in the event of sexual intercourse protected by a condom, but it is not completely stopped.
The condom protects from sexually transmitted infections (IST) but it would still let certain bacteria pass. According to a new study published in the journal iscience,, Scientists have indeed discovered that an exchange of genital bacteria, specific to each individual, took place during each sexual intercourse.
Bacteria identify sexual partners
Each individual carries a specific mixture of genital bacteria, called sexome. During a sexual intercourse, some genital bacteria of the sexoma are exchanged between the two partners. Otherwise, there are a bit of bacteria from one to the other, and vice versa. This transmission is natural and harmless to health. On the other hand, it leaves a trace. It is precisely this trace that researchers from Murdoch University of PerthAustralia-Western, studied. Their goal was to prove that his analysis made it possible to identify the person with whom the intimate report took place.
PFor that, they asked twelve heterosexual couples not to have sex for two to fourteen days. Before and after this period of abstinence, scientists have taken samples from the genitals of each of the participants to analyze their sexome. This is how they were able to observe a change in the composition of their genital bacteria, influenced by the person with whom sexual intercourse took place.
“”This research is based on the medico-legal concept according to which each contact leaves a trace, Indicates Brendan Chapman, researcher in medico-legal sciences within Murdoch University in Perth and author of this study, in a press release. Until now, few studies have explored vaginal and penniless microbiomas in this context”.
Wearing the condom does not prevent this bacterial exchange
Among the twelve couples, three used a condom. And yet, bacterial exchange has always taken place. According to the researchers, this protection means reduces the transmission of bacteria between the two partners, but does not stop it completely. Thanks to the sexoma, even when sex is protected by a condom, it would therefore be possible to identify the partners. This discovery, if confirmed, could help legal medicine in the context of rape surveys.
“”We propose that the sexoma can be used as another tool in the toolbox of medico-legal DNA, either to strengthen the validity of the results of human DNA, or to be used when this technique is insufficient, underlines Brendan Chapman. The advantage of our approach is that it requires no additional sampling or trauma for the victim. It’s important for us”.
