DES (Diethylstilbestrol) Controversy

Diethylstilbestrol, more commonly referred to as DES, is a synthetic form of the female hormone estrogen. During the years between 1940 [Page 460]and 1971, DES was prescribed to pregnant women for the prevention of miscarriage, premature labor, and complications of pregnancy. However, extensive research now confirms DES is actually an endocrine disrupting chemical that interferes with the endocrine system, causing cancer, birth defects, and developmental abnormalities. The effects of DES’s endocrine disrupting chemicals are most severe when exposure occurs during fetal development.

The uses of DES were not only centered on the prophylactic treatments of miscarriage and pregnancy complications, but also as a means for the overall regulation of female hormones. Hence, DES was prescribed for the regulation of menstrual cycles and menopause and was also ...