Diethylstilbesterol (Noun)
Meaning
Synthetic nonsteroid with the properties of estrogen; formerly used to treat menstrual problems but was found to be associated with vaginal cancers in the daughters of women so treated during pregnancy.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The use of diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy was discontinued after it was linked to a higher risk of vaginal cancer in female offspring.
- Researchers studied the effects of diethylstilbestrol on the reproductive health of women who had been exposed to the synthetic estrogen in utero.
- The FDA banned the use of diethylstilbestrol in pregnant women after numerous cases of vaginal cancer were reported in young girls whose mothers had taken the medication.
- The daughters of women who took diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy were found to be at a higher risk of developing vaginal cancer and other reproductive problems.
- The discovery of the link between diethylstilbestrol and vaginal cancer led to a significant shift in the treatment of menstrual problems and the use of synthetic estrogens in pregnant women.