The DES story is a cautionary tale of medical care gone awry.

DES (diethylstilbestrol) is a powerful synthetic estrogen that crosses the placenta of pregnant women and can damage the reproductive system of the developing fetus. DES may also affect other body systems: endocrine, immune, skeletal, and neurological. This drug was prescribed to an estimated 4.8 million U.S. women between 1938 and 1971 (and sometimes beyond) in the mistaken belief that it would prevent miscarriage.

In fact, DES was untested for pregnancy use or safety, and studies … More