Last Updated on November 14, 2023 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that scientists have discovered that women retain and store, for life, the DNA of every man they’ve ever had sexual intercourse with. We fact-checked and found this claim to be Mostly False.
The Claim
An article on the website, “neonnettle.com” shares an article titled, “Women Store DNA From Every Man They’ve Ever Made Love With, Study Finds.” It further claims that the process through which it happens is through male microchimerism.
Fact Check
What is male microchimerism?
Microchimerism is the presence of cells from one individual to another genetically distinct individual. Male microchimerism refers to the presence of a small number of male cells (typically carrying a Y chromosome) in the body of a female. This phenomenon occurs when male cells, often from a male fetus during pregnancy, enter the bloodstream of the mother and become integrated into her tissues. These male cells can persist in the female’s body for many years, and they are referred to as “microchimeric” because they exist in relatively small quantities compared to the female’s own cells.
The most common source of male microchimerism is the transfer of fetal cells (stem cells) from a male fetus to the mother during pregnancy. These cells can then migrate to various tissues and organs in the mother’s body. While the exact reasons for this phenomenon are not fully understood, a few causes could be unrecognized spontaneous abortion, a vanished male twin, and an older brother transferred by maternal circulation.
Do women store the DNA of every man they have sex with through microchimerism?
No. There is not enough scientific evidence to prove that women store the DNA of every man they have sex with through microchimerism. Microchimerism typically occurs as a result of pregnancy when a woman carries a male fetus. Data suggests that male microchimerism in young girls may originate from an older brother either fully born or from a discontinued pregnancy or from transfusion during pregnancy.
The study mentioned found male DNA in 63 percent of the female subjects’ autopsied brain tissue specimens. But, the researchers did not suggest that the origin of this male DNA found in female brain tissue was “harvested” or “stored” from every past lover.
Some studies have suggested that sexual intercourse may be a possible cause of male microchimerism. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove that this DNA comes from having sex.
When we checked about the claim with Dr Ekta Singh, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology currently working at Cloudnine Hospital, Noida, she explained, “There is a lack of authentic scientific evidence which proves that a woman stores the DNA of every man she had a sexual relationship with. The scant evidence which indicates any such association lacks credible scientific backup. However, when a pregnancy occurs, the DNA of the foetus circulates in the body of the mother which can be confirmed with non invasive prenatal testing.”
However, microchimerism is not a result of sexual activity or intercourse with different partners. It has not been proven that it is a mechanism for storing the DNA of every sexual partner a woman may have. Each pregnancy carries the potential for microchimerism, but it doesn’t accumulate with every sexual partner. The presence of male microchimerism is primarily linked to a woman’s history of pregnancies, not her history of sexual partners. The link is currently only speculative. There is no evidence that this potential DNA transfer could apply to every sexual act between a man and a woman.
Gynaecologist Dr. Puja Sharma, MBBS, MD, FMAS, and FICOG, serving as the director of Daksh Clinic in Hauz Khas, Delhi, says, “There are no concrete literature supporting this. Microchimerism is exchange of cells between two different individuals and is observed physiologically during pregnancy, miscarriage, blood transfusion and organ transplant. Small number of transferred cells may remain in mother’s body even decades after childbirth. However, fetal microchimerism is mostly protective for mother, it may have certain negative effects in cases of recurrent pregnancy loss.”
Dr. Garima Gupta, MBBS, MD (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) states, “Microchimerism refers to the presence of a small number of cells that originate from another individual and are found in a person’s body. This phenomenon can occur during pregnancy when fetal cells pass into the mother’s bloodstream and vice versa. While microchimerism is a well-documented occurrence between a mother and her child, the idea that women store the DNA of every man they have sex with is not accurate. The notion that women retain the DNA of every sexual partner likely stems from a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of scientific concepts. It is crucial to distinguish between microchimerism associated with pregnancy and the idea that every sexual encounter leads to the permanent storage of an individual’s DNA in a woman’s body. In summary, microchimerism occurs between a mother and her biological child during pregnancy, but it does not involve the storage of the DNA of every sexual partner a woman may have.”
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