DES

By Tabitha Fletcher

DES (diethylstilbestrol) is a drug that was widely used in the 50’s. It was prescribed to pregnant women as a way to remove risk of miscarriage and to increase the healthiness of the pregnancy.

The drug DES is an endocrine disruptor and has been labeled a cross-placental carcinogen. DES is infamous as “The worst medical disaster of U.S. history.” DES was given to pregnant women before major research was done to know the consequences it may have to the infant’s life. What occurred was devastating.

The children of women who were prescribed DES have been more frequently diagnosed with rare cancers and other ailments. Most children did not find that they had a problem until later in life. When they wanted to have children, they were found to be infertile.

Also unusual numbers of women were being diagnosed with rare vaginal and cervical cancers. Other effects of DES include autoimmune diseases, ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages and premature deliveries.

Sons of DES women were affected by higher incidences of malformations in reproductive organs. Effects of DES are not only seen in the children of women who toke the drug but also in their grandchildren, showing that more than one generation is affected.

This is an example of a disaster of monumental proportions affecting millions in the U.S. and hundreds of thousands more worldwide caused by endocrine disruptors. Although DES is not be being used anymore, its effects are still seen today.

What makes this experience even more important is that today, more than ever, drugs are being produced and distributed without clear indications of their effects on the next generations. Research of new drugs is necessary because the next DES could be just around the corner. Will we know before its too late?

For further information regarding DES and the people affected visit www.Desstories.com or www.ourstolenfuture.org.