Abstract

In view of the risk of vaginal cancer developing in young female subjects exposed in utero to maternally ingested diethylstilbestrol a pilot study was undertaken of male subjects similarly exposed. A healthy questionnaire was mailed to 306 male subjects whose mothers were known to have taken diethylstilbestrol in the early part of their pregnancies and to 231 age and sex-matched controls identified from the same record source. Although there was no increased history of cancer, heart disease or asthma when the groups were compared there was a higher incidence of reported urinary tract symptoms and genital abnormalities in the group exposed to diethylstilbestrol. The presence of these abnormalities was confirmed by physical examination of 15 respondents. Studies in experimental animals also have shown that in certain species maternally ingested stilbestrol may result in abnormalities of the genitaltensive clinical studies be undertaken to determine the level of risk, if any, to which many thousands of young men are subject.

PIP:

A health questionnaire was mailed to 306 male subjects whose mothers were known to have taken diethylstibestrol (DES) in the early part of their pregnancies and to 231 controls without this history. Completed questionnaires were returned by 225 (73%) of those treated with DES and by 111(48%) of the controls. The mothers treated with DES had also received more progestin and other estrogens than controls. In 86.7% of of the cases, mean daily dose of more than 25 mg. The 34 mothers whose responses suggested congenital genital abnormalities in their male offspring were requested to bring their sons in for clinical examination. 15 responded,11 exposed and 4 controls. Ages of sons were 15-25 years. 10 mothers exposed to DES described urethral obstruction in their infants, often requiring an operation. Only 2 of the 11 subjects exposed to DES were found to be urologically completely normal while 3 of the 4 controls were normal. There had been 3 cases of unilateral undescended testis, all of which had been corrected by surgery. Of these, 2 also had had meatal stenosis. No cancer cases were found. Male fertility had not been tested. Longer follow-up and more subjects are needed for conclusions.