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Patients Who Are Offspring of DES Daughters and Sons |
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How should DES Sons and Daughters
and their children be counseled about possible third-generation effects?
Animal studies have raised some concerns of possible cancer risk
(240,241,242). Few studies have been published that focus on third-generation
effects in humans. Follow-up studies will be needed to definitively
confirm or rule out possible health effects.
Men and women who may have been exposed to DES in utero should
be encouraged to discuss the issue with their mothers, and, when
possible, obtain their mother's obstetrical records. This is of
particular importance since health risks to their children and grandchildren
are still being studied. Many women who were prescribed DES while
pregnant are elderly. If their children and grandchildren are not
informed of their potential risk, opportunities for future intervention
may be lost.
For a complete list of the numbered citations
on this page see DES References.
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