WHY YOU SHOULD LEARN ABOUT DES

DES is a prescription drug that was given to millions of pregnant women primarily from 1938 to 1971. You are a DES son if your mother took DES while she was pregnant with you. While most DES sons do not have health problems related to this drug, DES is known to cause certain changes which may require medical attention in a small percentage of men.

ARE YOU A DES SON?

To find out if you are a DES son:

• Ask your mother (if possible) whether she took any medications while she was pregnant with you.
  
  
• Try to confirm your exposure by requesting your mother's medical records. You can learn more about how to do this by reading The Basic Booklet in this series.
  
  
• If you know the names of medications your mother took, check the list on the inside back cover.
  
  
• Call one of the DES consumer organizations for more information.

Summary of Concerns

Although less is known about the consequences of DES exposure in men than in women, a number of concerns have been identified. It is important for men who know or suspect they are DES sons to be aware of possible problems and know what to do about them.

Most men exposed to DES before birth have no known increased risk of health problems. However, some DES sons do face an increased risk for problems with their genital organs. These range from harmless irregularities to problems which may require medical treatment. Many people which may require medical treatment. Many people, including some doctors, do not know that men can be affected by DES exposure before birth.

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