Study, 1991
Does exposure to DES before birth affect period symptoms in adult women?
Mostly no. Women exposed to DES in the womb reported similar period symptoms to unexposed women. The only possible difference was slightly more water retention symptoms in the exposed group.
What they did
Researchers compared 60 women exposed to DES before birth with three groups: 30 women with abnormal cervical smears, 30 women with no DES exposure, and 20 unexposed sisters. All completed a questionnaire about period symptoms including age at first period, cycle length, pain, and mood and physical changes.
What they found
The groups did not differ in age at first period, average cycle length, period pain, or absence of periods. DES exposure had little effect on mood, behaviour, or physical symptoms that change with the period. The only possible difference was slightly higher water retention symptoms in the DES-exposed group.
What it means for you
Prenatal DES exposure does not appear to worsen period symptoms in adult women. This is reassuring for women concerned about this exposure. The main limits are women had to remember their symptoms from long ago which may not be accurate, and the water retention finding may not be a real difference.
60
DES-exposed women studied
30
unexposed control women
About the study
- Original title
- Menstrual cycle functioning in women with a history of prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure
- Authors
- D. Schechter, Anke Α. Ehrhardt, J. Endicott et al.
- Journal
- Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Year
- 1991
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 30
- What was tested
- None (comparison of past exposure)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674829109077990
Topics
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