Abstract

Background

Endometriosis, which affects 10–15 % of women of reproductive age, is an estrogen-driven condition influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Exposition to estrogen-like endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been reported to contribute to the fetal origin of this disease.

Case presentation

We report here an informative family in which all prenatally DES-exposed daughters and subsequent granddaughters presented endometriosis, whereas the unexposed first daughter and her progeny presented no gynecological disorders. Moreover, the only post-pubertal great-granddaughter, who presents chronic dysmenorrhea that remains resistant to conventional therapy, is at risk of developing endometriosis. The mother (I-2) was prescribed DES (30 mg/day for 3 months) to inhibit lactation after each delivery.

Conclusions

Although a direct causal link between the grandmother’s treatment with DES and the development of endometriosis in possibly three exposed generations remains speculative, this report strengthens the suspicion that fetal exposition to DES contributes to the pathogenesis of adult diseases, such as endometriosis. It also highlights a multigenerational and likely transgenerational effect of EDCs.

Details

Title
Multigenerational endometriosis : consequence of fetal exposure to diethylstilbestrol ?
Author
Gaspari, Laura; Marie-Odile Soyer-Gobillard; Paris, Françoise; Kalfa, Nicolas; Hamamah, Samir; Sultan, Charles
Pages
1-5
Section
Case report
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
e-ISSN
1476069X
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2574416928
Copyright
© 2021. This work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.