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
| Author | Sandy Jocoy, RN |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Kevin Holcomb, MD - Gynecologic Oncology |
| Last Updated | January 5, 2009 |
Author:Sandy Jocoy, RN
Last Updated: 01/05/2009
