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Lifestyle and Environment · Environmental Exposures

Urogenital tract abnormalities in sons of women treated with diethylstilbestrol

Henderson BE, Benton B, Cosgrove M, Baptista J, Aldrich J, Townsend D, Hart W, Mack TM

Published October 1976 Pediatrics, 58(4), 505-507
DOI 10.1542/peds.58.4.505

Abstract

Since in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) is known to cause abnormalities of the female genital tract later in life, exposed male offspring were located, surveyed by mail, and compared with unexposed male offspring from the same period and medical practices. The exposed and unexposed respondents appeared comparable and did not differ in their response to most medical questions. However, a larger proportion of exposed than of unexposed boys had experienced problems in passing urine (12.9% vs. 1.8%, P = .0003) and abnormalities of the penile urethra (4.4% vs. 0%; P = .017).

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Breast Health · Breast Cancer Risk

Effect of reproductive factors and oral contraceptives on breast cancer risk in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and noncarriers: results from a population-based study

Lee E et al., 2008 Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev

Multiparity and breast-feeding reduce breast cancer risk, whereas oral contraceptive use may slightly increase breast cancer risk in the general population. However, the effects of these factors in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers are less clear. Case patients were 1,469 women from Los Angeles County ages 20 to 49 years with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Control subjects were 444 women without breast cancer, individually matched to a subset of cases on race, age, and neighborhood. BRCA1/2 genes were sequenced in the cases, and odds ratios of breast cancer associated with various reproductive and hormonal factors in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and noncarriers were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. Ninety-four women had a deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Number of full-term pregnancies was inversely associated with breast cancer risk regardless of BRCA1/2 mutation status. Longer breast-feeding duration was protective among noncarriers but not among mutation carriers; however, this apparent effect modification was not statistically significant (P = 0.23). Neither oral contraceptive use overall nor the use of low-dose oral contraceptives was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in any subgroup. Our results suggest that parity protects against breast cancer in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, whereas breast-feeding does not. Our data suggest no association between oral contraceptive use and breast cancer risk in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Further confirmation that currently available low-dose oral contraceptives do not increase breast cancer risk in carriers is important from a public health perspective given the high prevalence of oral contraceptive use in the United States.

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Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with normal hormonal balance and may exert adverse consequences on humans. The male reproductive system may be susceptible to the effects of such environmental toxicants. This review discusses the recent progress in scientific data mainly from epidemiology studies on the associations between EDCs and male reproductive health and our understanding of possible mechanisms associated with the effects of EDCs on male reproductive health. Finally, the review provides recommendations on future research to enhance our understanding of EDCs and male reproductive health. The review highlights the need for (1) well-defined longitudinal epidemiology studies, with appropriately designed exposure assessment to determine potential causal relationships; (2) chemical and biochemical approaches aimed at a better understanding of the mechanism of action of xenoestrogens with regard to low-dose effects, and assessment of identify genetic susceptibility factors associated with the risk of adverse effects following exposure to EDCs.

Environmental Exposures · Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

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Congenital abnormalities and hormones during pregnancy: a clinical review

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Lifestyle and Environment › Environmental Exposures › Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Brian E Henderson
B Henderson
DOI 10.1542/peds.58.4.505 10.1542/peds.58.4.505 Henderson et al. 1976, Henderson 1976

Cite this article

Henderson, B. E., Benton, B., Cosgrove, M., Baptista, J., Aldrich, J., Townsend, D., Hart, W., & Mack, T. M. (1976). Urogenital tract abnormalities in sons of women treated with diethylstilbestrol. Pediatrics, 58(4), 505-507. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.58.4.505

Keywords

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced, Diethylstilbestrol/adverse Effects/therapeutic Use, Female, Fetus/drug Effects, Humans, Hypospadias/chemically Induced, Male, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications/drug Therapy, Sex Factors, Urethral Stricture/chemically Induced, Urogenital Abnormalities, Diethylstilbestrol

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