Randomised trial of high doses of stilboestrol and ethisterone therapy in pregnancy: long-term follow-up of the children.
Open Access
- 1 September 1981
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by BMJ in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
- Vol. 35 (3), 155-160
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.35.3.155
Abstract
The 27-year follow-up is reported of 136 children whose mothers were involved in a randomised trial of high doses of stilboestrol and ethisterone therapy during pregnancy. The children were not contacted directly. Information about them was obtained from hospitals, general practitioners, and other official sources; and the persons who responded to our inquiries were unaware of who had been exposed to hormones in utero and whose mothers had received an inactive tablet. All children were traced. Urogenital anomalies were reported more frequently in the hormone-exposed than the unexposed children (14% and 9% respectively). The earlier in pregnancy the therapy began, the higher the prevalence rate of abnormalities (X2 for trend, p less than 0.02). No malignant tumours were reported. For males, the proportion reported to be married or living as married was lower in the exposed than in the unexposed group (32% and 62% respectively). The proportion was lower the earlier in pregnancy hormonal exposure occurred and the higher the total hormone dose to which they were exposed (X2 for trend, p less than 0.02). These findings suggest that some interference with sexual function may not be uncommon in males exposed to high doses of stilboestrol and ethisterone while in utero.Keywords
This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit:
- Male Genitourinary Abnormalities and Maternal DiethylstilbestrolJournal of Urology, 1977
- Cardiovascular Birth Defects and Antenatal Exposure to Female Sex HormonesNew England Journal of Medicine, 1977
- Follow-up study of male and female offspring of DES-treated mothers a preliminary report.1975
- BIRTH DEFECTS AND ŒSTROGENS AND PROGESTERONES IN PREGNANCYThe Lancet, 1975
- A SURVEY OF THE USE OF OESTROGENS DURING PREGNANCY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OF THE GENITO‐URINARY CANCER MORTALITY AND INCIDENCE RATES IN YOUNG PEOPLE IN ENGLAND AND WALESBJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1974
- Oral Contraceptives and Congenital Limb-Reduction DefectsNew England Journal of Medicine, 1974
- Diethylstilbestrol Usage: Its Interesting Past, Important Present, and Questionable FutureMedical Clinics of North America, 1974
- Prenatal Exposure to Female HormonesArchives of General Psychiatry, 1973
- Adenocarcinoma of the VaginaNew England Journal of Medicine, 1971
- Hormonal Pregnancy Tests and Congenital MalformationNature, 1967