Effects of exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES)
Between 1948 and 1971, millions of women took a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage.
Daughters born to women who took DES while pregnant have a slightly higher risk of developing:
- Abnormal cervical cells that cause an abnormal Pap test result.
- Cancer of the vagina.
- Structural problems in the reproductive organs (such as a T-shaped uterus), which can cause infertility.
| Author | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Denele Ivins |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Barbara S. Apgar, MD, MS - Family Medicine, Women's Health |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Ross Berkowitz, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Last Updated | January 12, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
January 12, 2007
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