diethylstilbestrol
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- noun
- /ˌdaɪˈɛθəlˌstɪlˈbɛstrɒl/
- Archaic
- The synthetic hormone diethylstilbestrol was once hailed for its ability to reduce pregnancy complications.
- diethylstilbestrol (DES)
Examples
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These women either had a rare disorder called congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) or had effects of the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) (Meyer-Bahlburg et al., 1995).
Academic text (2007) -
In the 1950s, doctors often prescribed diethylstilbestrol to pregnant women to help prevent miscarriages.
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Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was commonly used as a growth promoter in livestock feed during the mid-20th century.
Synonyms
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A man-made hormone once given to pregnant women that caused health problems
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A strong man-made female hormone once used as medicine and to make farm animals grow faster
A synthetic female hormone once given to women and animals, later linked to cancer in daughters of treated women
A man-made female hormone once given to women, later linked to cancer in their daughters
Surface Forms
Etymology
Diethylstilbestrol comes from parts that tell its chemistry: di- meaning 'two', ethyl meaning 'a small chemical group', and stilbestrol showing it acts like estrogen ('female hormone'). So, diethylstilbestrol is a man-made estrogen, which is why it was used in medicine and in animal feed.