Topic Overview
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.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerSarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerKevin C. Kiley, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology