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Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a drug once used during pregnancy to prevent miscarriages or premature deliveries. In the United States, the drug was prescribed from 1938 to 1971. In 1971, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told physicians to stop prescribing DES because it was linked to a rare vaginal cancer. The good news is that not all exposed individuals will have DES-related health problems.
Who is at risk?
Three groups are at risk; however, not all exposed individuals will develop these health problems:
Women prescribed DES while pregnant between 1938 and 1971 have a slight increased risk of breast cancer.
- DES daughters exposed to mother’s medication before being born between 1938 and 1971 are at risk for reproductive structural differences, pregnancy complications, infertility and some reproductive cancers.
- DES sons exposed to mother’s medication before being born between 1938 and 1971 are at increased risk for non-cancerous cysts.
Early Detection
Regular exams with your physician, along with a thorough medical and family history, can detect DES-related health problems. Regular exams include a pelvic examination, Pap smear, and clinical breast examination. If you learn you were exposed, you may receive additional testing to look for changes related to DES. If you took DES during pregnancy, tell your doctor. If you took DES during pregnancy, tell your children so they can get the health care they need now or in the future.
Mothers who used DES should also have mammograms performed on an annual basis from the age of 40. Regular examinations for DES daughters are advised beginning by age 14 or after their first menstural cycle. Sons exposed to DES should be informed of the exposure and be examined by a physician to make sure no significant problems are present.
Treatment
Treatments are planned individually according to the health-related problem.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Web site links
Other Resources
DES Cancer Network
514 10th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Help Lines and Publications
DES Action USA
1-800-DES-9288, M-F, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.
National Cancer Institute
1-800-4-CANCER or 1-800-422-6237, M-F, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
CDC’s Toll-Free Help Line
1-888-232-6789
Pennsylvania Department of Health
1-877-PA-HEALTH
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