Diethylstilbestrol exposure in utero and endometriosis in infertile females

R J Stillman, Robert J. Stillman, Stillman RJ, L C Miller, Lo-Rita C. Miller, Miller LC
Fertility and sterility · 1984 · doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)47713-7 · PMID:6230258
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-28 ⓘ

This study found high frequencies of endometriosis and cervical stenosis in infertile women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero, but no association beyond that in non-exposed women.

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Abstract

Endometriosis was found in 39% and in utero diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure in 5% of 397 infertile women who had undergone laparoscopy and/or laparotomy among 750 consecutively evaluated infertile couples. Fifty percent of the DES-exposed infertile women also had endometriosis, similar to the 39% with endometriosis among non-DES-exposed women. Cervical stenosis was found in 25% of all DES-exposed patients and in 83% of those who had undergone cryocautery or conization. However, 40% did not have endometriosis. Thus, while the frequency of endometriosis and cervical stenosis is extremely high in infertile women exposed in utero to DES, a significant association beyond that found in non-DES-exposed patients could not be established. Some of the infertility may be associated with cervical stenosis alone.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Diethylstilbestrol Endometriosis Infertility, Female Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects Abortion, Spontaneous Abortion, Spontaneous Diethylstilbestrol Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Infertility, Female Laparoscopy Laparotomy Male Pregnancy

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (9)

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