Facts About DES

DES is the first synthetic,oral estrogen pill.
DES was used in the mistaken belief it could prevent miscarriage.
DES became a hugely popular prescription pill prescribed to millions worldwide.
Anyone born or pregnant between 1938-1975 in the U.S., and until the mid-80s in some European countries, may be exposed to DES.
The NCI (National Cancer Institute) estimates 10 million DES-exposed women and men in the U.S. and hundreds of thousands of people exposed to DES in Europe, Canada, Australia.
DES was used for hundreds of treatments besides miscarriage treatment: to treat acne, menopause symptoms, breast milk suppressant, morning-after-pill, to stunt teenage growth, as animal feed supplement.
DES is linked to injury, illness, and death worldwide.
U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) launches a national DES education campaign in 2003.
New research on long-term health consequences of DES continue to unfold in 2006.

DES and Emerging Science

DES provides cutting edge scientific information because it is the landmark "case" showing a link between estrogenic exposure and second-generation reproductive injuries.
DES is proof that in utero exposure to high-dose estrogen may cause reproductive injuries in offspring.
DES is key evidence for the emerging science of endocrine disruption, which shows patterns of increasing reproductive dysfunction in humans and wildlife worldwide.

DES, diethylstilbestrol

DES has been called, "The worst disaster in U.S. medical history." Ten million Americans are exposed to DES. Hundreds of thousands were exposed in Europe, Australia, Canada, in up to 30 countries worlwide.

Strong, Healthy Babies

DES became so popular as an anti-miscarriage drug, it was prescribed to women with healthy pregnancies to build strong, healthy babies. In the early 1950s, DES was shown to be completely ineffective in preventing miscarriage. Yet, DES continued to be marketed worldwide for decades.

DES for hundreds of treatments

DES was prescribed in as many as 30 countries and manufactured by over 200 pharmaceutical companies under more than 300 names.

DES was prescribed for hundreds of treatments besides miscarriage; prostate cancer, breast cancer, acne, menopause symptoms.

DES was widely used to supress breast milk after childbirth. And it was the popular Morning-After-Pill used for decades on college campuses. DES was also used to stunt height growth in taller teenage girls and stimulate growth in shorter teenage boys. It was used to prepare transsexuals for sex change. DES was used widely as a growth stimulator in livestock.

DES Time Bomb

DES was dubbed the Timebomb Drug in newspaper headlines throughout the U.S. in the 1970s.

In 1971, physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital began to see teenage girls with a devastating vaginal cancer that had never occurred in women so young. Following the suggestion of a mother, to consider the DES she had been prescribed during pregnancy, they discovered the common liink: The mothers of the sick girls were prescribed DES during pregnancy. The enormity of the DES disaster exploded in the news. DES was identified as a teratogen (causes birth defects), and the first-ever cross-placental carcinogen. Proof of DES injuries became controversial. And, over time, serious reproductive injuries and malformations became linked to DES exposure.

DES Health Consequences

Not all DES-exposed people have health problems, yet studies show DES daughters have higher rates of vaginal and cervical cancer, and a greater incidence of reproductive problems; Infertility, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and premature delivery. Hundreds of young women have died from DES-related clear cell vaginal cancer. DES mothers have a 30% higher incidence of breast cancer. Research shows DES sons have a higher incidence of reproductive malformations. DES has caused sickness, pain, fear, heartbreak, and death—at an inestimable cost to individuals and society.

Long Term Consequences

Research carried out by the NCI and others continues to investigate the long-term consequences of DES exposure. It is important for DES-exposed people and health professionals to keep informed of research and current recommendations for care.

DES and Environmental Hormones

DES is key evidence in the emerging science of endocrine disruption. DES is one of many environmental hormones, called endocrine disrupters. These chemicals can disrupt reproductive function in wildlife and humans. In addition to posing personal health risk for millions of people, DES is the clearest example of second generation reproductive harm linked to chemical exposure. DES exposure has provided a living laboratory, providing key scientific discovery across disciplines.

DES and Estrogen

We are exposed to estrogen through birth control pills, fertility treatments, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and environmental exposures. DES has important ramifications because DES shows for certain that high doses of synthetic estrogen before birth can cause reproductive injuries and disease. DES raises questions about cumulative hormone exposure, our use of estrogen medication, cumulative exposure to hormones, and our exposure to chemicals in the enviroment that may effect the endocrine system.

DES in Food

An interesting chapter in the DES story is the widespread use of DES in livestock feed, to speed the fattening of cattle, lamb, and chickens. The majority of hamburgers, veal, chicken, and steaks on dinner plates in the 1950s and '60s were from animals fattened on DES-laced feed. Astonishingly, DES was banned in chickens in the 1960s, but not banned in humans. It took the USDA decades to get DES out of the food chain, yet, as recently as 2000, a shipment of U.S. beef to Switzerland was confiscated becauses traces of DES were detected in the meat.

In one way or another, DES has been part of our culture for more than six decades.