Follow-up Study of Male and Female Offspring of DES-exposed Mothers

Abstract #1:

Follow-up study of male and female offspring of DES-exposed mothers

1975 – This is a follow-up study of male and female offspring of mothers who were part of a double-blind placebo controlled investigation during the years 1951-1952, originally aimed at determining the usefulness of Diethylstilbestrol (DES) administration in maintaining pregnancy.

• So far, 84 DES-exposed females, 43 female controls, 42 DES-exposed males and 37 male controls have been examined.
• Circumferential ridges of the vagina and cervix were seen in 39% of the DES-exposed females but in none of the controls.
• Colposcopy revealed vaginal epitheleal changes in 78% of the DES-exposed females 2% of the female controls.
• Cytology proved to be reliable as a screening test for vaginal epithelial changes in the DES-exposed female.
• Urine cytology was negative for tumor cells in all patients.
• The main abnormal finding in the DES-exposed males was that cysts in the epididymis were detected in 10%.
• No cases of cancer were observed in either the male or female offspring.

Abstract #2:

1977 – This follow-up study presents the effects of DES on the genital tract of male and female offspring of mothers who were part of a double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation during 1951 and 1952 aimed at determining the effect of DES on pregnancy.

• Epididymal cysts, hypotrophic testes, and capsular induration were the more common genital lesions found in 25% of 163 DES-exposed males as compared to 6% in 168 control males.
• Semen analysis data on 39 subjects of the DES-exposed group and 25 subjects of the control group showed that 26% of the DES-exposed group produced an ejaculate volume under 1.5 ml; no such cases were observed in the control group.
• The average values for sperm density ant total motile spermatozoa per ejaculate, although in the normal range, were more than two times lower in the DES-exposed group as compared to the controls.
• A quality score of greater than 10 (“severely pathologic semen“) was found in 28% of the DES-exposed group as compared to 0 in the control group.
• An association of pathologic semen quality with physical abnormalities was found only in the DES-exposed group.
• Two cases of azoospermia, one without genital abnormalities on physical examination and one with bilateral hypotrophic testes were observed so far in the DES-exposed group.
• Eighteen percent of 229 DES-exposed female patients had irregular menstrual cycles (oligomenorrhea) as compared to 10% of 136 controls.
• The history of pregnancy revealed a lower incidence of pregnancy in the DES-exposed group (18%) than in the control group (33%).
• Circumferential ridges of the vagina and cervix were seen in 40% of 229 DES-exposed females but in none of 136 controls.
• Colposcopic findings in the vagina revealed adenosis in 66.8% of the DES-exposed females and in 3.6% of the control group.
• Dysplastic lesions were more prevalent in the vagina and cervix of the DES-exposed subjects.
• No cases of cancer were observed in either the male or female offspring.

NCBI Sources:

• Follow-up study of male and female offspring of DES-treated mothers a preliminary report
  J Reprod Med. 1975 Jul;15(1):29-32. PMID: 1171234.
• Follow-up study of male and female offspring of DES-exposed mothers, Obstet Gynecol. 1977 Jan;49(1):1-8. PMID: 318736.

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