Imagine being in a family expecting their first child. Newspaper articles show how the risk of miscarriage is increasing. As soon as anxiety starts to take over, a slip of journal changes everything. An article about a new drug called Diethylstilbestrol appears to be on the next page. Diethylstilbestrol, also known as DES, is a medication that helps prevent pregnancy complications, including miscarriage. “It’s amazing!” one might ask, but do they really know the consequences of taking this new medication? Diethylstilbestrol was a major turning point for most pregnant women in the early 20th century; however, this had many underlying negative consequences that would later affect both mother and child with the word no one ever wants to hear; cancer. To begin with, DES is a medication that some women would take while pregnant. Diethylstilbestrol is a man-made synthetic estrogen (“DES Exposure: Questions and Answers”). It was prescribed to help women who were having pregnancy complications and was supposed to resolve these problems (“DES Exposure: Questions and Answers”). DES was primarily aimed at preventing miscarriages. Although diethylstilbestrol was never patented, it was sold in more than 200 brand-name medications (“DES Update: Consumers”). The Eli Lilly Company was the largest supplier of the drug Diethylstilbestrol (“DES”). After failing to help women with pregnancy complications, diethylstilbestrol was recalled in 1971 due to the negative health effects it caused in pregnant women and their children ("Diethylstilbestrol (DES)"). This is a good thing because they took it off the market before it could harm more people. Even though DES has been proven in......middle of article......osure: Questions and Answers"). In the long term, those who have been exposed to diethylstilbestrol will be affected later in their In short, diethylstilbestrol was a major turning point for most pregnant women in the early 20th century; however, it had many underlying negative effects, including cancer and reproductive system deformities. was used to prevent miscarriage and was found to be ineffective. Women who took diethylstilbestrol were putting themselves and their children at risk. Diethylstilbestrol was made with good intentions but its creator did not know of the harmful effects. he would have on his patients Many people still live with the side effects of diethylstilbestrol, many of which are incurable. This illustrates how someone can have a good idea to improve someone's life, but ultimately this. can have devastating consequences..