diethylstilbestrol

Also stil·bes·trol,
Or di·eth·yl·stil·boes·trol

[dahy-eth-uhl-stil-bes-trawl, -trol]

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a nonsteroidal synthetic estrogen, C 18 H 20 O 2 , used in medicine chiefly in the treatment of menopausal symptoms and for chemical castration: formerly used during pregnancy for the prevention of miscarriage but discontinued owing to its association with an increased risk of vaginal and cervical cancers. DES

diethylstilbestrol

/ daɪˌɛθɪlstɪlˈbɛstrɒl, -ˌiːθaɪl- /

noun

1. Also called: stilbestrol.  stilboestrol. a synthetic hormone with oestrogenic properties, used to relieve menopausal symptoms. Formula: OHC 6 H 4 CH:CHC 6 H 4 OH

diethylstilbestrol

1. See DES

Word History and Origins

Origin of diethylstilbestrol¹

First recorded in 1935–40; di- ¹ + ethyl + stilbestrol, equivalent to stilb(ene) ( def. ), estr(us), -ol ¹

Example Sentences

In her speech, Ms. Sturgeon also apologized for how some women, up until the early ’70s, were given diethylstilbestrol, a drug that dried up their breast milk and that has been linked to cancer.

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Women who were exposed in utero to the drug diethylstilbestrol, or D.E.S., are also considered high risk.

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Cohn said in an interview that her group decided to investigate the long-term effects of Makena because of its similarity to another synthetic hormone called diethylstilbestrol, or DES.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The case involves a synthetic estrogen known as DES, diethylstilbestrol, which was prescribed to millions of pregnant women between the late 1930s and early 1970s to prevent miscarriages, premature births and other problems.

Read more on Salon

Many of us born in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s were exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol, or DES, a synthetic estrogen prescribed to pregnant women in a mistaken attempt to prevent miscarriage.

Read more on Scientific American