Stilbesterol (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
- Diethylstilbestrol, also known as stilbesterol, was a commonly prescribed medication in the mid-20th century to prevent miscarriage and premature labor.
- The use of stilbesterol was discontinued in the 1970s after studies linked it to a higher risk of vaginal cancer in female offspring exposed to the hormone in utero.
- Pregnant women who took stilbesterol during the 1950s and 1960s may have unknowingly put their unborn daughters at risk of developing vaginal cancer later in life.
- Research has shown that stilbesterol exposure during fetal development can have long-lasting effects on reproductive health, including increased risk of vaginal and cervical cancers.
- In some countries, stilbesterol is still used in veterinary medicine to treat certain animal health issues, despite its risks and controversies in human medicine.