DES Mothers and Daughters: Research Trends 1970s to 2025

September 2025 Update

From the DES International Information and Research Network
grad-mentor.com/des-research

Overview

Since the publication in 1970 by Dr. Arthur Herbst documenting vaginal cancer among women exposed prenatally to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) (see Herbst, “Adenocarcimona of the Vagina: Association of Maternal Stilbestrol Therapy with Tumor Appearance in Young Women (1971), published in the New England Journal of Medicine), an extensive body of investigative research has been published revealing the widening scope of reported adverse health effects for DES daughters (i.e. women exposed prenatally to DES) as well as their mothers who were prescribed DES.

This site documents links to published research emphasizing DES Daughters and Mothers, including related studies focusing on endocrine disruption and female reproductive health that was published between 1990 and 2024, with references to historical literature published as early as the late 1930s.

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Major topics addressed in published research include:

  • Cancers, especially risk of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix, squamous cell neoplasia of the genital tract, breast cancer, ovarian cancer
  • A separate guide to breast cancer research among DES-exposed women is also available
  • Structural changes of the genital tract including T-shaped uterus with a small cavity, T-shaped uterus with a constriction ring, and constriction rings alone; abnormalities of the uterine corpus and fallopian tube; cervical ectropion
  • Vaginal and cervical adenosis
  • Endometriosis and infertility
  • Cardiovascular effects, including coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction
  • Pancreatic disorders and pancreatitis
  • Early natural menopause
  • Increased risk of stillbirth
  • Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy
  • Slightly increased risk of obesity
  • Higher risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy
  • Reproductive tract abnormalities, including menstrual irregularities and urinary tract irregularities
  • Pap smear screening practices and rates among DES Daughters
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Slight increase in diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  • Mental health effects, especially depression and neurobehavioral effects
  • Psychosexual/gender identity outcomes
  • Other reported adverse effects that may have been noted in individual medical case studies
  • Historical survey research with DES-exposed populations of mothers and daughters (e.g. National Cancer Institute)
  • Multigenerational effects in DES Granddaughters are further documented on a separate page at grad-mentor.com/research-des-generations

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    Journal References 1970-2025*

    [* Note regarding the timeline of research publications: Initial research about the human health effects of exposure to diethylstilbestrol began as early as the 1950s and significantly evolved during the 1970s and 1980s. Most publications from the 1990s and forward cite the studies from those early years where considered relevant.]

    A comprehensive guide to the full directory of DES-related publications on all topics is available at Diethylstilbestrol (DES): Multigenerational Research Trends 1939-2025.

    2019-2025