Warning issued on pregnancy drug

fergus51 · Jun 9, 2004

Thanks for posting this Gwenith. I hadn't heard anything about it. It does make me wonder because it seems like we have soooooooo many people struggling with infertility.

kids · Jun 10, 2004

The generic name of Stilboestrolis is diethylstilbestrol and is best known (at least in the US) by its more common name: DES.

The risks associated with intrauterine DES exposure in female offspring received a lot of US press in the 80s and I had assumed it was worldwide. BUT, I can see how dissemination of the information fell off and is now experiencing a resurgence as many women are delaying childbearing into their 30s & 40s. And, as I recall the drug is still being used to treat some prostate cancers.

*Personally*

My mother became pregnant with me in 1963 while in her late 30s. She had experience some "irregularity" prior to my conception so rather than performing a pregnancy test the physician declared her menopausal and gave her not one but 2 courses of (some sort of) estrogen & progesterone to trigger menses.

The information came to light when I developed an incompetent cervix and wound up on bed rest during my 2nd pregnancy. 17 years later, after 7 miscarriages and 15 years of repeated ablation of abnormal cells (not HPV) I had a hysterectomy at age 36 for cervical cancer. It is unknown if my mom was given "real" estrogen or one of the synthetic derivatives, the assumption is that my *difficulties* are the result of my intrauterine exposure to high dose hormones.

While pregnant with her first child in 2002 my daughter was advised that MY reproductive and Gyno history is relevant to her health and reproduction. My daughter will be 24 next month, the PAP done at her 6 week check was abnormal (again, not HPV) and was treated. She is now on a track of PAPs every 6 months until she has been "clear" X4.

Info on DES exposure can be found at: http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/2003.html

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2004

Nancy (((((((((Hugs)))))))))))) when I posted this I had no idea it would apply to someone on the Board. Thanks for the additional information.

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2004

My mother is not sure if she took DES while pg with me.(Really crappy OB, another story) I have PPROMed with both my pregnancies and wonder if DES is the reason as everything else has ruled out.

The time is running out for filing a lawsuit against the makers of the drug, but lawyers are only interested if you have had cancer.

Brandy Peavyhouse · Jun 10, 2004

My aunt is currently undergoing cancer treatment because her mom took that drug when she is pregnant with her. The doctors told her she was fighting a losing battle and her daughter could inherit the cancer later on in life.

kids · Jun 11, 2004

my aunt is currently undergoing cancer treatment because her mom took that drug when she is pregnant with her. the doctors told her she was fighting a losing battle and her daughter could inherit the cancer later on in life.

what a discouraging thing for her doctors to have said (regarding her daughter) and it conflicts with what (the few) recent studies have said, tho i believe 3rd generation exposures warrent as close of monitoring as their mothers.

"a study of the health risks for the granddaughters of women prescribed des while pregnant, or third-generation daughters, was published in 2002. the researchers compared findings of pelvic examinations of 28 des granddaughters with findings noted in their mothers (des daughters). even though abnormalities were present in more than 60% of des daughters, no abnormalities were found in the des granddaughters (kaufman, 2002).

des grandsons are being studied at the netherlands cancer institute. early research reported that hypospadias, misplaced opening of the member, occurred 20 times more frequently among sons of des daughters (klip, 2002)."

http://www.cdc.gov/des/consumers/about/concerns_offspring.html

the kaufman study is titled "findings in female offspring of women exposed in utero to diethylstibestrol" . the text can be read at: http://www.cdc.gov/des/consumers/research/recent_findings.html

the klip study is titled "hypospadias in sons of women exposed to diethylstibestrol in utero: a cohort study" and can be read at:

http://www.cdc.gov/des/consumers/research/recent_hypospadias.html

more info on des exposure can be found at:

http://www.cdc.gov/des/

http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/daughters-exposed-to-des

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/atoz/ency/des_exposure.html

http://www.obandgyn.cc/faqs/des.htm (lists the many names des was sold under)

bam_bam · Jun 19, 2004

My mom took something when she was pregnant with me ( I was born late 71) but she doesn't know what it was and her records are gone I do have some signs of DES exposure. I have always had very irregular periods, t-shaped uterus, infertility, lost a baby due to sever IUGR. I haven't any abnormal paps thank God! I can't believe they are still using this!

Beth

RedSox33RN · Jun 19, 2004

I am a "late" DES baby, born in 1967. Besides unusually heavy menstrual periods since age 11 (10 days minimum, very heavy), I've had many, MANY abnormal paps, Had cryo done at age 18. I did not have any fertility problems, and although 2 miscarriages, have 4 healthy children.

DES is thought to be responsible for auto-immune diseases. At the ripe age of 29, I was dx'd with Type 1 diabetes. I've done a lot of research on it, and am convinced from talking to my docs - OB's and Endo's, that this is directly related to the DES exposure.

I did read about it being used for men with prostate cancer. I would be very hesitant for any man to use this, not knowing how it many affect sperm cells. I know most men being treated for prostate cancer are probably past the age where they will be fathering children, but it's certainly not out of the question.

I find it very frightening what used to be prescribed - and still is - without knowing the side effects. I even recall some diabetes meds being pulled in the last few years because of side effects that were not disclosed during trials.

Scary. :stone