DES Exposure in Utero

Alternate Names : Diethylstilbestrol Exposure in the Womb

From the 1940s to the 1970s, diethylstilbestrol (DES) was used in some pregnant women to prevent miscarriage. Many sons and daughters of women who used DES have developed abnormalities of the reproductive organs.

What is going on in the body?

A woman who was exposed to DES in her mother's uterus may have abnormalities in her cervix, uterus, or vagina. A man who was exposed to DES in his mother's uterus may have abnormalities in the size of his penis, the opening of the urethra, and the testicles.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

Exposure to DES in the mother's uterus causes these problems in both men and women.