DES linked to feminization in boys and precocious puberty in girls
1980 Abstract
This paper reviews both minor and major adverse reactions caused by estrogenic substances (natural and synthetic, steroidal and nonsteroidal) of which diethylstilbestrol is the prototype of nonsteroidal synthetic estrogen.
Minor side effects include nausea, breast tenderness, and excessive cervical secretions (most common), headache, and water and salt retention (less common and often eradicated by lowering estrogen dosage). Vertigo, yeast infections, depression, and photosensitivity are other minor effects.
Major effects include those on the endocrine system (e.g., feminization in boys and men and precocious puberty in girls); breast tumors; endometrial carcinoma; ovarian tumors; hypertension; thromboembolism; blood clotting excesses; various metabolic effects (including lipid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism alterations); liver changes (bile alterations and neoplasms); porphyria; melanoma; and effects on a fetus in situ during maternal estrogen administration. In general, lowering doses of estrogen should help eradicate or alleviate most of these effects.
References
- Clinical toxicology of estrogens, Pharmacology & therapeutics, NCBI PubMed PMID: 7413728, 1980.
- Featured image parents canada.
DES DIETHYLSTILBESTROL RESOURCES
- All studies in ref to DES and puberty.
- Diethylstilbestrol DES studies by topics.
IN 1968 I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY 2ND SON ROBERT, I BEGAN TO BLEED IN EARLY 1ST TERM THE DR. PRESCRIBED DES, TO PREVENT A MISCARRIAGE. I CONTINUED HAVING PROBLEMS DURING THE PREGNANCY AND DURING BIRTH. MY SON HAS AND IS SUFFERING FROM MANY PROBLEMS STILL. IS THERE ANY HELP OR RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HIM?
Hi Brenda. There are so many health issues related to DES exposure that it’s hard to point you to a specific study. Our available resources are listed on the page “DES studies” list of topics and studies.
Best wishes,