Department of Medical Ecology, The Hebrew University, Hadassah Hospital Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel, 1975
Abstract
In this study the risk of major malformations is about 26% higher in the group exposed or probably exposed to hormones, compared with those with no history of exposure, whereas for minor malformations, the increase is about 33 %.
Part of the increase in risk may be due to teratogenic effects of these hormones.
We believe that there is a need to re-evaluate the safety of therapeutic hormones and the rationale of their use in pregnant women with various disorders.
This is of particular importance, since women with abnormal sex-hormone metabolism may be more susceptible to the teratogenicity of exogenous hormones.
The results of this study also underline the need to consider possible changes in the frequency of minor birth defects after maternal exposure to exogenous sex hormones in early pregnancy.
Sources
- Letter: Birth defects and oestrogens and progesterones in pregnancy, The Lancet, DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(75)91784-5, 22 March 1975.
- Image credit PubMed PMID: 47104.
DES DIETHYLSTILBESTROL RESOURCES
- Source DES and pregnancy studies.
- Diethylstilbestrol DES studies listed by topics and date of publication.