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DES self-assessment : a guide to understanding your risk for DES exposure
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1/2/03
[PDF-327.80 KB]
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Description:1938—1971: DESprescribedforpregnantwomen
1971—2002: Research identifies long-term DES health risks
2003: CDC’s DESUPDATE begins...
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is 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. 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.
No known medical test (such as blood, urine or skin analysis) has been developed that can detect DES exposure. However, the DES Self-Assessment Guide is designed to help you assess whether you might have been exposed to DES.
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