DES Research Continues — 30 Years after Risk Identified

Wednesday, March 10, 2004

ROCHESTER, Minn. — If you took diethylstilbestrol (DES) or are the daughter of a woman who did, it's important to talk with your doctor about related health risks, according the March issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. DES was used from 1938 to 1971 to prevent miscarriages and premature births. In 1971, DES was linked to a rare vaginal cancer in the female children of women who took the drug. More than 30 years later, researchers continue to study the health risks of this synthetic hormone. "DES exposure doesn't necessarily mean that you'll have any of the problems associated with taking DES," says George Malkasian, M.D., a Mayo Clinic expert in gynecology. But it's wise to be aware of the risks. Women who took DES while pregnant have a one in six chance of developing breast cancer, compared with a one in eight chance for other women. Daughters of women who took DES are at increased risk of several health conditions including:

* Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix. They're 40 times more likely to develop this cancer than are women not exposed to DES.

* Vaginal adenosis. This noncancerous condition can be present in 50 percent of DES daughters.

* Abnormalities of the cervix, uterus or fallopian tubes.

* Pregnancy complications.

* Infertility.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Lisa Copeland
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511(evenings)
email: newsbureau@mayo.edu

Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville
Erik Kaldor
904-953-2300

Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale
Anne Tewksbury
480-301-4368

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.

###

To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.