A Comparison of Pregnancy Experience in DES-exposed and DES-unexposed Daughters

In this 1980 study, the difference in pregnancy outcomes between the DES daughters and the unexposed is highly significant

A comparison of pregnancy experience in DES-exposed and DES-unexposed daughters
Pregnancy outcomes in DES Daugters are worse than those in unexposed women

Reproductive histories were compared for 226 diethylstilbestrol-exposed daughters and 203 DES-unexposed daughters whose mothers participated in a double-blind evaluation 27 years before. Irregular menstruation was slightly more common among the exposed (10%) than among the unexposed (4%). Nineteen of the exposed and only four of the unexposed had primary infertility. Among those at risk, 86% of the unexposed and 67% of the exposed had become pregnant. The reasons for these differences are not known. Comparison of evaluable first pregnancy outcome revealed full-term live birth to be more common among the unexposed (85%) than the exposed (47%). Premature live birth was experienced by 22% of the exposed but only 7% of the unexposed. Nonviable outcomes of stillbirth, neonatal death, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy occurred in 31% of the exposed and 8% of the unexposed. The difference in pregnancy outcomes between the groups is highly significant. The DES-exposed with transverse cervicovaginal ridges were more likely to experience a nonviable outcome. Overall 82% of the exposed and 93% of the unexposed had at least one live offspring.

Sources: A comparison of pregnancy experience in DES-exposed and DES-unexposed daughters, NCBI, Dr Herbst A, Feb 1980

Related post: Continued follow-up of #Pregnancy Outcomes in #DiEthylStilbestrol-exposed Offspring, by Dr Herbst A, Oct 2000

Sadly for many DES daughters having their own children is not possible! Many of us who have experienced miscarriages, want to have kids but are struggling or unable to…
More about DES pregnancy risks – our posts tagged pregnancy

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4 thoughts on “A Comparison of Pregnancy Experience in DES-exposed and DES-unexposed Daughters”

  1. I am so surprised that I never heard of these studies when they were happening. I have always gone to a major medical center in NJ I can’t believe no one ever sent anything, unless I was included and didn’t even know it. My problems with DES are so extensive I’ve had doctors across the country want to see me and my pathology as well as records. I had a DES cancer when. Was 33 that no one had ever seen before. Come to find out from a pathologist, so,done who worked with Dr Herbest at Chicago, who said he had seen it in 25 other women world wide! Lucky me. Good thing I found good doctors or I’d be dead today.

  2. Recently receiving this message when I try to Pin? “Your image is too small. Please choose a larger image and try again.”
    Judith

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