What risk is associated with daughters of women treated with DES diethylstibestrol?

Daughters of women treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES) face a significant risk of developing adenocarcinoma of the vagina, a rare form of cancer. This association was established through multiple studies that demonstrated a direct link between in utero exposure to DES and this specific type of cancer. Adenocarcinoma of the vagina typically arises in women who were exposed to DES when their mothers took the drug during pregnancy, particularly from the 1940s to the early 1970s when DES was widely prescribed.

The risk of developing this cancer is particularly concerning because it often occurs in young women, well before typical screenings for gynecological cancers would take place. In addition to adenocarcinoma, DES exposure has been associated with other reproductive tract abnormalities and health consequences, but the notable elevation in the risk of vaginal adenocarcinoma is the most critical concern that defines this association.

Understanding the specific risks related to DES exposure informs both patient history assessments and ongoing monitoring of health in women who may have been exposed as fetuses.