Stilbestrol

Stilbestrol is a synthetic, non-steroidal estrogen of the stilbestrol group that was first synthesized in 1938. It is also known as diethylstilbestrol (DES), which was one of the first synthetic estrogens to be used in hormone replacement therapy. It was widely prescribed to pregnant women from the 1940s to the 1970s with the incorrect belief that it would reduce the risk of pregnancy complications and losses.

History

Stilbestrol was first synthesized in 1938 by Sir Edward Charles Dodds. It was marketed under several brand names, including Stilboestrol-Borne and Stilbetin. In 1971, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Bulletin advising physicians to stop prescribing DES to pregnant women because it was linked to a rare vaginal cancer in female offspring.

Uses

Stilbestrol was used for various indications, including the following:

• Hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms
• Prostate cancer treatment
• Breast cancer treatment in postmenopausal women
• Prevention of miscarriages in pregnant women

Side Effects

The use of stilbestrol has been associated with several adverse effects, including the following:

• Clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA), a rare form of vaginal and cervical cancer
• Breast cancer
• Infertility
• Testicular abnormalities

See Also

• Estrogen
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Prostate cancer
• Breast cancer
• Clear cell adenocarcinoma

External Links

• DES Fact Sheet from the National Cancer Institute

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