Diethylstilbestrol
Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Diethylstilbestrol

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a drug, a synthetic estrogen that was developed to supplement a woman's natural estrogen production. First prescribed by physicians in 1938 for women who experienced miscarriages or premature deliveries, DES was originally considered effective and safe for both the pregnant woman and the developing baby. A double-blind study was not done until DES had been on the market for more than a decade (Dieckmann, 1953). more...

Home
Diseases
Medicines
A
B
C
D
Dacarbazine
Dactinomycin
Dalmane
Danazol
Dantrolene
Dapoxetine
Dapsone
Daptomycin
Daraprim
Darvocet
Darvon
Daunorubicin
Daunorubicin
Daypro
DDAVP
Deca-Durabolin
Deferoxamine
Delsym
Demeclocycline
Demeclocycline
Demerol
Demulen
Denatonium
Depakene
Depakote
Depo-Provera
Desferal
Desflurane
Desipramine
Desmopressin
Desogen
Desogestrel
Desonide
Desoxyn
Desyrel
Detrol
Dexacort
Dexamethasone
Dexamfetamine
Dexedrine
Dexpanthenol
Dextran
Dextromethorphan
Dextromoramide
Dextropropoxyphene
Dextrorphan
Diabeta
Diacerein
Diacetolol
Dial
Diamox
Diazepam
Diazoxide
Dibenzepin
Diclofenac
Diclohexal
Didanosine
Dieldrin
Diethylcarbamazine
Diethylstilbestrol
Diethyltoluamide
Differin
Diflucan
Diflunisal
Digitoxin
Digoxin
Dihydrocodeine
Dihydroergotamine
Dihydrotachysterol
Dilantin
Dilaudid
Diltahexal
Diltiazem
Dimenhydrinate
Dimercaprol
Dimetapp
Dimethyl sulfoxide
Dimethyltryptamine
Dimetridazole
Diminazene
Diovan
Dioxybenzone
Diphenhydramine
Diphenoxylate
Dipipanone
Dipivefrine
Diprivan
Diprolene
Diproteverine
Dipyridamole
Disulfiram
Disulfiram
Dizocilpine
Dobutamine
Docetaxel
Docusate sodium
Dofetilide
Dolasetron
Dolobid
Dolophine
Domperidone
Donepezil
Dopamine
Dopram
Doral
Doramectin
Doriden
Dornase alfa
Doryx
Dostinex
Doxapram
Doxazosin
Doxepin
Doxil
Doxil
Doxorubicin
Doxy
Doxycycline
Doxyhexal
Doxylamine
Drisdol
Drixoral
Dronabinol
Droperidol
Drospirenone
Duloxetine
Durabolin
Duragesic
Duraphyl
Duraquin
Dutasteride
Dv
Dyclonine
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Even though it found that pregnant women given DES had just as many miscarriages and premature deliveries as the control group, DES continued to be aggressively marketed and routinely prescribed.

In the United States, an estimated 5-10 million persons were exposed to DES during 1938-1971, including women who were prescribed DES while pregnant and the female and male children born of these pregnancies. In 1971, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Bulletin advising physicians to stop prescribing DES to pregnant women because it was linked to a rare vaginal cancer in female offspring. DES was, however, never banned and was continued to be prescribed in the U.S. and other countries well beyond the 1971 date (1978 in most European countries and even as late as 1994 in some third world contries).

More than 30 years of research have confirmed that health risks are associated with DES exposure. However, not all exposed persons will experience the following DES-related health problems.

  • Women prescribed DES while pregnant are at a modestly increased risk for breast cancer. A new study shows DES daughters as having a 2.5 fold increase in breast cancer after age 40.
  • Women exposed to DES before birth (in the womb), known as DES Daughters, are at an increased risk for clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA) of the vagina and cervix, reproductive tract structural differences, pregnancy complications, infertility, and auto-immune disorders. Although DES Daughters appear to be at highest risk for clear cell cancer in their teens and early 20s, cases have been reported in DES Daughters in their 30s and 40s (Hatch, 1998).
  • Men exposed to DES before birth (in the womb), known as DES Sons, are at an increased risk for non-cancerous epididymal cysts and auto-immune disorders.

Researchers are still following the health of persons exposed to DES to determine whether other health problems occur as they grow older.

Current research also looks at DES Third Generation. Third Generation refers to the offspring of DES Sons and Daughters. There is not yet much information available because the Third Generation are at an age where they can start to be physiologically affected by the DES exposure of his or her parent(s).

Third generation injuries are associated with preterm labor or deliveries resulting in premature birth and cerebral palsy, blindess or other neurological deficits or death of a child. One DES Daughter had a child who, at the age of four years, had such a severe case of cerebral palsy that the child was unable to turn himself over; the cerebral palsy was linked to the DES exposure of the mother.

Another study (J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2003; 25:635-636.) found DES to be transgenerational, meaning that the maternal grandmother had taken DES while pregnant but the mother did not experience any health associated with the DES exposure. This was realized when a rare tumor was discovered on a 15 year old girl.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Diethylstilbestrol
From American Family Physician, 5/15/04

What is diethylstilbestrol?

Diethylstilbestrol (say: die-eth-el-still-besstroll), or DES, is a man-made estrogen. Between 1938 and 1971, millions of women in the United States were given DES to keep them from losing their baby or giving birth too early. DES was used in other countries until at least the early 1980s.

In 1971, researchers found that women who were exposed to DES before they were born (these women are called DES daughters) were more likely to get a certain kind of cancer of the vagina and cervix.

Has DES caused any other problems?

Yes. Women who took DES during pregnancy have a slightly higher risk of getting breast cancer.

Up to one third of DES daughters have reproductive tract problems. These problems increase their risk of not being able to get pregnant, losing a baby, or having a baby too early. However, most of these women have no problem getting pregnant, and they deliver their babies without problems.

The sons of women who took DES during pregnancy (called DES sons) have a higher risk of some reproductive tract problems, but they seem to have normal fertility.

How do I know if I was exposed to DES?

If you were pregnant between 1938 and 1971 and think that you may have taken a prescription medicine during your pregnancy, try to get your medical records from the doctors who took care of you. Remember, DES was used in some other countries until the early 1980s.

If you were born between 1938 and 1971, ask your mother if she remembers taking any prescription medicine during her pregnancy.

I took DES during pregnancy. What should I do?

The increase in the breast cancer rate is small. You can perform regular breast self-exams. And after you are 50 years old, have your doctor examine your breasts once a year and get a mammogram every year.

I am a DES daughter. What special health care needs do I have?

Be certain to tell your family doctor that you were exposed to DES.

If you have not had a pelvic exam before, your doctor will want you to have one. This exam should include a special exam of the tissues of your vagina and cervix. This special exam is called colposcopy (say: call-poss-kahpee).

Have pelvic exams and Pap smears every year. You might have a little trouble getting pregnant. But most DES daughters are able to get pregnant and have healthy babies.

I am a DES son. What special health care needs do I have?

Have regular prostate tests and do regular self-exams of your testicles. You also should report any urinary or genital symptoms to your doctor.

More Infomation About DES

For more information, you can contact these groups:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's DES Update

Telephone: 1-888-232-6789

Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/DES

National Cancer Institute: Questions & Answers About DES

Web site: http://cis.nci.bnih.gov/fact/3_4.htm

DES Action USA

610 16th Street, Suite 301

Oakland, CA 94612

Telephone: 1-510-465-4011; 1-800-337-9288

Web site: http://www.desaction.org

E-mail: desaction@earthlink.net

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

Return to Diethylstilbestrol
Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay