Recognizes the history and harm caused by diethylstilbestrol (DES), supports designating a DES Awareness Week, and urges the FDA to apologize to affected families.
James "Jim" McGovern
Representative
MA-2
This bill designates April 20-26, 2025 as DES Awareness Week to recognize the history and harm caused by diethylstilbestrol (DES), a toxic estrogen prescribed to millions of pregnant women in the U.S. until 1971. The bill expresses support for DES Awareness Week, recognizes the harm caused by DES, supports restoring funding for the DES Follow-Up Study, and urges the FDA to formally apologize to affected families. DES exposure in utero has been linked to various health complications in children and increased fertility and pregnancy complications in women. The FDA banned DES use during pregnancy in 1971 but has not apologized for the harm caused by its prolonged use.
House Resolution Seeks DES Awareness Week, Research Funding, and FDA Apology for Past Harm
This House Resolution officially designates April 20 through 26, 2025, as 'DES Awareness Week.' It's focused on diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen prescribed to millions of pregnant women in the U.S. between the early 1940s and 1971, originally intended to prevent miscarriages. The resolution formally recognizes DES as a toxic endocrine disruptor and acknowledges the significant harm it caused, including links to rare cancers, fertility issues, pregnancy complications, and other health problems in those exposed before birth.
Acknowledging History and Impact
The core of this resolution is bringing attention to a difficult chapter in medical history. It explicitly states that DES exposure in utero was connected to clear cell adenocarcinoma (a rare vaginal cancer) in young women, a discovery that led to the FDA banning its use during pregnancy in 1971. Beyond cancer, the resolution notes links to a wider range of physical and mental health challenges for those exposed, often referred to as 'DES Daughters' and 'DES Sons.' By designating an official awareness week, the House aims to validate the experiences of affected families and educate the public about the drug's legacy.
Supporting Research and Seeking Accountability
Beyond recognition, the resolution pushes for concrete actions. It expresses support for restoring funding for the DES Follow-Up Study, a critical long-term research project tracking the health outcomes of those exposed. This signals the importance of continued scientific understanding of DES's multi-generational impacts. Furthermore, the resolution urges the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – the agency that approved DES and later banned it for pregnancy use – to issue a formal apology to the families impacted by its prolonged use. While the resolution acknowledges that the FDA has recognized the harm, it emphasizes that a formal apology is still needed.