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Immunocontraception
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<p>Immunocontraception is the use of an animal's <a href="/facts/Immune_system/HRCTf1pb">immune system</a> to prevent it from <a href="/facts/Fertilisation/g8u3UKzF">fertilizing</a> offspring. Contraceptives of this type are not currently approved for human use. </p><p>Typically immunocontraception involves the administration of a <a href="/facts/Vaccine/QcXzLug2">vaccine</a> that induces an <a href="/facts/Adaptive_immune_system/bc7zT1Jo">adaptive</a> <a href="/facts/Immune_response/dtLulqIy">immune response</a> which causes an animal to become temporarily infertile. Contraceptive vaccines have been used in numerous settings for the control of wildlife populations. However, experts in the field believe that major innovations are required before immunocontraception can become a practical form of <a href="/facts/Contraception/qCzhxgH8">contraception</a> for human beings. </p><p>Thus far immunocontraception has focused on <a href="/facts/Mammals/phSwTzBo">mammals</a> exclusively. There are several targets in <a href="/facts/Mammalian_sexual_reproduction/hmsXy53s">mammalian sexual reproduction</a> for immune inhibition. They can be organized into three categories. </p> Gamete production Organisms that undergo sexual reproduction must first produce <a href="/facts/Gamete/j8e8fls6">gametes</a>, <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cells</a> which have half the typical number of <a href="/facts/Chromosomes/FRGf11FC">chromosomes</a> of the species. Often immunity that prevents gamete production also inhibits <a href="/facts/Secondary_sexual_characteristic/lV2Fl3uA">secondary sexual characteristics</a> and so has effects similar to <a href="/facts/Castration/QdBkfLCK">castration</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> Gamete function After gametes are produced in sexual reproduction, two gametes must combine during fertilization to form a <a href="/facts/Zygote/mSu2xMWA">zygote</a>, which again has the full typical number of chromosomes of the species. Methods that target gamete function prevent this fertilization from occurring and are true contraceptives. Gamete outcome Shortly after fertilization a zygote develops into a multicellular <a href="/facts/Embryo/9QHnLVLN">embryo</a> that in turn develops into a larger organism. In <a href="/facts/Placental_mammals/xegVWIRG">placental mammals</a> this process of <a href="/facts/Gestation/QKgkykw5">gestation</a> occurs inside the reproductive system of the mother of the embryo. Immunity that targets gamete outcome induces <a href="/facts/Abortion/ro0RjIBT">abortion</a> of an embryo while it is within its mother's reproductive system.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>