Aug 27, 2003 9:13 pm US/Central CHICAGO(CBS 2)The government has launched a new effort to let people know they might have used or been exposed to a dangerous drug taken by women for decades.
It was supposed to prevent problems during pregnancy, but may wind up costing those women and their future generations much more.
DES, a synthetic estrogen, was prescribed freely to women in the 1940's and 50's to prevent miscarriages.
"It was almost used like vitamins," says Dr. Arthur Haney of the University of Chicago.
But doctors began taking a second look at it in 1971 when the FDA issued a warning about potential risks to those women and their children.
Kathryn Moran was a teenager when she discovered she was exposed to DES while in her mother's womb.
“When you're 18 you think you're invincible," says Moran.
However, she soon found out that because she was a DES daughter, she'd be in danger for the rest of her life.
"I was pretty upset, I was pretty angry."
Doctor Arthur Haney, chairman of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at the University of Chicago, is an expert on the consequences of DES. He says research has shown that women given the drug while pregnant have a 30% higher risk of breast cancer.
Their sons have a higher risk of non-cancerous cysts, genital defects and down the road, potentially higher rates of testicular and prostate cancer.
"Until the population has aged more, we really are not going to know,” says Dr. Haney.
DES daughters have a greater risk of a rare vaginal and cervical cancer, reproductive abnormalities, infertility and problems during pregnancy.
"My first pregnancy I had complications I went into preterm labor in the 5th month," says Moran.
But Kathryn was ultimately able to carry her first son, almost to term. Her second pregnancy wasn't as successful.
"I miscarried two weeks after my mother died," recalls Moran. "My third pregnancy, there were concerns that I would lose the baby or that he would have birth defects."
Her second son was eventually born healthy. Kathryn considers herself lucky, but that only makes her worry more about her family's future.
“Who's to say there isn't actually genetic change in my body that I'm now passing on in my DNA to my children and my grandchildren?" asks Moran.
"It's a clock with wires ticking, but we don't know if there's a bomb at the other end of the wires or not," explains Dr. Haney.
You can find out a lot more about DES from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
