Immunocontraception outcome has focused on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG is not necessary for fertilization, but is secreted by embryos shortly thereafter. Therefore, immunity against hCG does not prevent fertilization. However, it was found that anti-hCG antibodies prevent marmoset embryos from implanting in the endometrium of their mother's uterus. The main function of hCG is to sustain the ovarian corpus luteum during pregnancy past the time it would normally decay as part of the regular menstrual cycle. For the first 7–9 weeks in humans, the corpus luteum secretes the progesterone necessary to maintain the viability of the endometrium for pregnancy. Therefore,
Pharmacokinetics of progesterone half-life of progesterone in the circulation is very short at a range of about 3 to 90 minutes. Previous studies using RIA have reported an overestimated half-life of oral progesterone of about 16 to 18 hours. A subsequent, reliable study using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) reported a half-life of oral progesterone of about 4.6 to 5.2 hours when it was taken with food. Due to the short half-life and duration of action of oral progesterone, it is often taken in divided doses of two or three times per day. Because of studies that used RIA, it was incorrectly