Diethylstilboestrol (Hansard, 25 May 1993)

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what abnormalities, other than vaginal cancer, have been identified amongst daughters of women who were prescribed the drug diethylstilboestrol; and if she will make a statement.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Daughters of women given diethylstilboestrol (DES) in pregnancy may have a small 507W increased risk of developing minor benign lesions of the cervix, and of complications of pregnancy such as premature labour. Congenital abnormalities of the vagina and uteris, infertility and psychological problems have also been identified as possible complications of DES exposure.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what incidence of testicular cancer has been discovered among sons whose mothers were prescribed the drug diethylstilboestrol; and if she will make a statement

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Accurate information is not available. An association with testicular cancer has been claimed but not conclusively proven. Recent research on this issue is currently being evaluated by the Department.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what attempts have been made by her Department to track down those women, together with their sons and daughters, who were prescribed the drug diethylstilboestrol.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Torridge and Devon, West (Ms Nicholson) on 5 June 1990 at columns 589–90.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what continuing research into the long-term effects of the drug diethylstilboestrol is being carried out in the United Kingdom.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
We are not aware of any such research.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women she estimates to have been prescribed the drug diethylstilboestrol in the United Kingdom.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
It has been estimated that around 7,500 women were prescribed diethylstilboestrol (DES) during pregnancy in the United Kingdom. A small number of post-menopausal women have received oral DES for the treatment of breast cancer, and in the form of a vaginal pessary for the treatment of post-menopausal vaginitis.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when and for what reason the decision was taken for the drug diethylstilboestrol no longer to be made available for general prescription in the United Kingdom.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Diethylstilboestrol (DES) may still be prescribed in the United Kingdom for certain restricted indications. DES is currently licensed for use in the management of prostatic cancer and breast cancer in post-menopausal women. A vaginal pessary containing DES is also licensed for use in the treatment of post-menopausal vaginitis due to oestrogen deficiency. DES is contra-indicated in pregnancy and pre-menopausal women.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence of vaginal cancers have emerged among those women who were prescribed diethylstilboestrol.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
There is no evidence to suggest that women prescribed diethylstilboestrol (DES) are more likely to develop vaginal cancers. An increased risk of clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina or cervix applies to the daughters of women prescribed DES during pregnancy.
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§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what brand names the drug diethylstilboestrol was marketed and made available in the United Kingdom.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Diethylstilboestrol has been marketed under the following brand names: Stilboestrol, Stilboestrol B.P., Tampovagan stilboestrol and lactic acid pessary, Honvan, Menopax, Sedestran, Merven and Pabestrol.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of research carried out in other countries about the long-term effects of the drug diethylstilboestrol on those women for whom it was prescribed and on their sons and daughters.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
The United Kingdom Licensing Authority and its advisory committees carefully monitor the safety of all licensed medicines, including diethylistilboestrol (DES). Information relating to the safety of DES is monitored and assessed as and when it becomes available.
The Licensing Authority liaises with other EC member states on this issue.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department has received about planned or actual litigation against the manufacturers and suppliers of the drug diethylstilboestrol(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
None.