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Third-generation children (the offspring of DES Daughters and Sons) are just beginning to reach the age when relevant health problems (such as reproductive tract problems), can be studied.
A study of the health risks for the granddaughters of women prescribed DES while pregnant, or third-generation daughters, was published in 2002. The researchers compared findings of pelvic examinations of 28 DES Granddaughters with findings noted in their mothers (DES Daughters). Even though abnormalities were present in more than 60% of DES Daughters, no abnormalities were found in the DES Granddaughters (Kaufman, 2002).
DES Grandsons are being studied at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. Early research reported that hypospadias, misplaced opening of the penis, occurred 20 times more frequently among sons of DES Daughters (Klip, 2002).
In laboratory animal studies of elderly third-generation DES-exposed, female mice, an increased risk of uterine cancers, benign ovarian tumors, and lymphomas was found. Elderly third-generation DES-exposed male mice were at an increased risk of certain reproductive tract tumors. Both the female and male mice studied were the offspring of female mice exposed to DES before birth (in the womb). While DES research about third-generation health risks continues, you should protect your health by staying informed and talking with a health care provider about your concerns.
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