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Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is an estrogen that was first manufactured in a laboratory in 1938, so it is called a "synthetic estrogen." During 1938-1971, U.S. physicians prescribed DES to pregnant women to prevent miscarriages and avoid other pregnancy problems. As a result, an estimated 5-10 million pregnant women and the children born of these pregnancies were exposed to DES. Physicians prescribed DES to pregnant women on the theory that miscarriages and premature births occurred because some pregnant women did not produce enough estrogen naturally. At the time, physicians thought DES was safe and would prevent miscarriages and pre-term (early) births. In 1953, published research showed that DES did not prevent miscarriages or premature births. However, DES continued to be prescribed until 1971. In that year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Bulletin advising physicians to stop prescribing DES to pregnant women. The FDA warning was based on a study published in 1971 that identified DES as a cause of a rare vaginal cancer in girls and young women who had been exposed to DES before birth (in the womb). The news that DES could be harmful led to a national effort to find women prescribed DES while pregnant and notify them of the potential DES-related health problems. Physicians reviewed patients' medical records and notified women who had been prescribed DES. As a result of this effort, many women were made aware of the DES health risk known at that time, known as clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA), a rare vaginal cancer. Women were encouraged to have their DES-exposed daughters screened regularly by a gynecologist because CCA was found in girls as young as 8 years old. Women contacted during the 1970s, along with their children, formed the core of large study groups that researchers call "cohorts." Researchers studied the health of these DES-exposed cohorts for more than 20 years. Much of what is known about DES-related health risks is the result of these long-term studies. For more information on these cohort studies, click here. Despite earlier efforts to identify DES-exposed women and men, many persons exposed to DES were not located. These persons may not realize that they were exposed to DES. Unfortunately, no medical test (such as blood, urine, or skin analysis) can detect DES exposure. However, to assess whether you may have been exposed to DES and to learn what you can do about DES, refer to the Interactive DES Self-Assessment Guide, and What You Can Do About DES. All DES-exposed persons are at an increased risk for developing some health problems when compared with persons who were not exposed to DES. All of the health problems related to DES exposure also can occur in persons who were not exposed to DES. CDC's DES update provides information on DES-related health effects. Many companies manufactured DES and similar synthetic drugs. In 1976, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a list of the most commonly used names and spellings for DES and similar drugs.
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