Diethylstilbestrol or DES

Diethylstilbestrol or DES - pronounced "die-eth-el-still-bess-troll" and called DES for short - is certainly a mouthful but what is it?

Diethylstilbestrol is a synthetic - man made - estrogen, a female hormone - that was used in the United States to prevent miscarriage and other pregnancy complications between 1938 and 1971.

Yes, it was and still is an FDA approved drug.

The use of DES declined after studies in the 1950s showed it was not effective in preventing pregnancy complications. Yet, by then it had been used for almost 20 years.

As a matter of fact, in 1953 it was demonstrated that DES did not prevent miscarriage or other pregnancy complications. However, physicians continued to prescribe DES to pregnant women until at least 1971.

Certainly, you must be wondering as we are...

...why another 18 years - 1953 to 1971?

...why?

We are still waiting for an answer.

Diethylstilbestrol or DES: Why Is It So Bad?

When given during the first 5 months of a pregnancy, DES interferes with the development of the reproductive system in an unborn baby.

For this reason, although DES and other estrogens may be prescribed for some medical problems, they are no longer used during pregnancy.

In 1971, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration - note, 33 years after it was first used on pregnant women - issued a warning...

...a warning?...

...not a ban?...

Evidence from a recent study suggests that daughters of women who took diethylstilbestrol or DES during pregnancy may have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer after age 40.

A slight increase?

The risk of breast cancer for DES-exposed women over age 40 was 1.9 times the risk of breast cancer for unexposed women of the same ages. 1.9 times...

... isn't that almost double your chances?

Do you call that a slight increase?

Although diethylstilbestrol or DES has not been given to pregnant women in the United States for more than 30 years, its effects continue to be seen.

Women who were exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero may have:

Structural reproductive tract anomalies

An increased infertility rate

And/or poor pregnancy outcomes

However, the good news is that the majority of these women have been able to deliver successfully.

Those same daughters have an increased risk of clear cell adenocarcinoma - meaning cancer - of the vagina and cervix. This uncommon cancer of the vagina or cervix is usually diagnosed between age 15 and 25 in DES exposed daughters.

However, some cases have been reported in women in their thirties and forties.

Diethylstilbestrol or DES: What About Sons?

Okay what about the women who took DES while pregnant and had a son rather than a daughter.

No, they do not walk free...

...In fact, the sons of women who took diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy have an increased incidence of genital abnormalities and a possibly increased risk of prostate and testicular cancer.

Diethylstilbestrol or DES: How Many Were Exposed?

Between 1938 and 1971, it has been estimated that 5 to 10 million women were exposed to diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy for the purpose of improving pregnancy outcomes.

It did not even work!

Sadly, many of these women are not aware that they were exposed.

On a side note, no natural remedy has ever had such devastating effects. Ever...

A woman who was pregnant between 1938 and 1971 and had problems or a history of problems during pregnancy may have been given DES or a similar drug.

The association between in utero DES exposure and vaginal clear cell adenocarcinoma has been well documented.

Adverse associations have been identified in DES-exposed women and their offspring, and animal studies have shown effects in the next generation - i.e. grandchildren.

To leave a comment or review Click Here

Read others' comments and reviews.

Diethylstilbestrol or DES: Reviews

Any thoughts? A story of your own? Share with us!