Antipregnancy vaccine
Cohen, J.
Contraception Fertilite Sexualite 4(6): 399-400
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-861X PMID: 12334581 Document Number: 106408
An anti-beta human chorionic gouadotropin (HCG) vaccine has been tested on rhesus monkeys and women to prevent pregnancy by Talwar and his colleagues in India. The beta subunit of HCG must be used since the HCG alpha subunit is identical to a part of the luteinizing hormone molecule. The HCG beta subunit is bonded to tetanus toxin, whose properties are known. There were observed side effects on menstruation, lactation, progesterone, nervous system, respiration, or blood pressure in women, or on metabolism, endocrine systems, or organs in animals. In women the antibody titer rose from 4-6 weeks to a maximum at 5 months, then dropped to zero in 11-16 months. A 2nd immunization brought on a rapid secondary response. Other workers have doubts about the reversibility of anti-beta HCG because abortions have been recorded after antibody levels were undetectable.