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DES was prescribed beginning in the 1940s. Women were prescribed DES for over twenty years to prevent miscarriages during pregnancy. In 1971, DES prescriptions were halted when reports surfaced of vaginal adenocarcinoma in the young daughters of women who had taken DES during pregnancy. Typically these rare cancers only occurred in elderly women, and doctors were shocked at the discovery of these cancers in this young age group. This birth defect went undetected for almost two decades.
DES Daughters
Now the effects of DES exposure are known. It is also known that if a DES daughter has not developed cancer by age 30, she is likely not to develop it. Although the incidence of cancer was ultimately determined to be low, other abnormalities such as poor reproductive outcome in DES daughters, are very common. The female fetus’s reproductive organs are formed during the first 18 weeks of pregnancy. DES interferes with the growth and development of the uterus, cervix, vagina, and fallopian tubes. DES daughters often have reproductive problems such as: a cervical hood (a vaginal fold draped over the cervix), cockscomb cervix (an abnormally shaped cervix), and adenosis (glandular cells normally located within the cervix that appear on the outside of the cervix and in the vagina), fallopian tube abnormalities leading to infertility, and an abnormal, T-shaped uterus that can lead to infertility and/or premature labor and birth. In 2003, a new study showed that DES also was associated with increased risk of breast cancer.
DES Sons
In DES sons, epididymal cysts are the most common abnormality that they develop. Epididymal cysts are non-cancerous growths that feel like small lumps along the epididymis, a structure on the back of each testicle where sperm are stored. Other birth defects include small testicles or undescended testicles. Other research points to increased incidence of testicular varicoceles in DES sons; a varicocele is a swollen or varicose vein on the testicle that can affect sperm count and fertility. Other research shows that DES grandsons may be at a higher risk for developing abnormality of the penis.
If you are a DES daughter or son, contact our defective drug lawyers today for a free and confidential consultation. © Copyright 2008 Morelli Ratner PC
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