DES DAUGHTERS

Between 1940 and up until 1971, diethylstilbestrol (or DES) was given to over 4 million women in the US to help prevent miscarriages. Women who took DES, and the children that they carried, are at risk for special problems.

Problems caused by this drug were found 20 years later, in children of mothers who took DES. Some of these problems include:

a rare type of vaginal or cervical cancer in young women in their teens and twenties
changes in the shape of the cervix and uterus, which may cause increased miscarriages, abnormal pregnancies, and premature labor
changes in the urinary tract, such as a missing kidney and
the male children may have had some changes in their reproductive system and may have problems with infertility (There is now a study going on to find out if male children who were exposed to DES have a higher incidence of cancer in the testicles.)

The drug's long-term effects are now being studied. As women who were exposed to DES get older, their risk for all cancers, especially breast cancer, increases. If you were born between 1940 and 1971 and think your mother took DES, the first step you should take is to talk with your healthcare provider or a women's health service. They will direct you to a special service, if you need more testing. A special exam called a colposcopy will be done to check your vagina and cervix. A Pap smear will be taken with extra attention focused on the vaginal area. Other tests of the uterus and kidney systems may also be done.

To be safe and smart, women who have these exams, and who are found free of any cancer at that date, still need to have yearly gynecological exams. If needed, counseling for any future concerns, such as what can occur during pregnancy, is provided. A national listing of DES daughters exists so that if a future health problem is found, help can be offered.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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