A vaccine that prevents pregnancy in women.
Level II
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 8078917.
- Also identified by PMC identifier 44640.
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Abstract
We report here results of clinical trials on a birth control vaccine, consisting of a heterospecies dimer of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) associated noncovalently with the alpha subunit of ovine luteinizing hormone and conjugated to tetanus and diphtheria toxoids as carriers, that induces antibodies of high avidity (K(a) approximately 10(10) M-1) against hCG. Fertile women exposed to conception over 1224 cycles recorded only one pregnancy at antibody titers of > 50 ng/ml (hCG bioneutralization capacity). The antibody response declines with time; fertility was regained when titers fell to < 35 ng/ml. This study presents evidence of the feasibility of a vaccine for control of human fertility.
Medical subject headings
- Chorionic Gonadotropin
- Family Planning Services
- Luteinizing Hormone
- Pregnancy
- Vaccines