diethylstilboestrol

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Related to diethylstilboestrol: diethylstilbestrol

diethylstilboestrol

Diethylstilbestrol, DES. A synthetic female sex hormone. This is now restricted in use to the treatment of certain cancers of the PROSTATE and the breast. If given to pregnant women it can cause cancer in the female offspring. See also STILBOESTROL.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

References in periodicals archive ?

VA SYNTHETIC form of oestrogen, Diethylstilboestrol (DES) was widely used in the US between 1940 and 1970, but less frequently in the UK and Europe, to treat threatened miscarriage.

YOUR PROBLEMS: I fear I'm a victim of danger drug; LETTER OF THE DAY

The Office earlier reported that diethylstilboestrol (DES), a synthetic hormone for which the tolerance level is zero, had been found in two consignments of US meat.

EU/UNITED STATES: FRESH RESPITE FOR HORMONE-FREE BEEF

THE article looked at cancers in the children of women who took diethylstilboestrol during pregnancy.