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DES Update Home: For Consumers, health care providers and DES update partners

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	For Consumers

	For Health Care Providers

	For DES Update Partners


	Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a drug once prescribed during pregnancy to prevent miscarriages or premature deliveries. In the U.S. an estimated 5 to 10 million persons were exposed to DES from 1938 to 1971, including pregnant women prescribed DES and their children. In 1971, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised physicians to stop prescribing DES because it was linked to a rare vaginal cancer. After more than 30 years of research, there are confirmed health risks associated with DES exposure. However, not all exposed individuals will experience DES-related health problems. Whether you know for sure or suspect you were exposed to DES, you can use CDC's DES Update to learn more about DES exposure and what you can do about it.

	DES Spotlight's


	CDC’s DES Update Campaign Wins More Awards CDC’s DES Update Campaign was honored this year with two ASTRID awards and one Mercury award. These awards are given out by MerComm Inc. MerComm was founded in 1987 for the purpose of advancing the arts and sciences of communications in an international arena. It strives to establish and promote high standards of individual and collective achievement. Two of the awards they give out are the ASTRID and the Mercury awards. The ASTRID Award “serves as a showcase for excellence in design” and was founded in 1991. It is given in an International Competition Honoring Outstanding Achievement in Design Communications. The ASTRID awards are one of the largest awards in the world. The Mercury Award is given in an International Competition honoring Outstanding Achievement in Professional Communications. CDC’s DES Update won the 2004 Bronze ASTRID award for the Health Care Provider CD-ROM and Honors for the Consumer Binder. CDC’s DES Update won the Honors Mercury Award in the Public Health Awareness Campaign Category. We would like to acknowledge all of our partners who were instrumental in the development of the health education campaign.



	For Consumers Helpful information on DES research and a guide to help assess whether you might have been exposed to DES, as well as in-depth information for women prescribed DES while pregnant and their DES Daughters and DES Sons.



	For Health Care Providers Resources to help identify and counsel DES-exposed individuals. Material includes essential facts for clinicians and nurses, pharmacology, NCI guidelines, educational tools and resources, and support organizations.



	For DES Update Partners Tools to help you share information from the DES Update with your organization, including promotional materials, Web site linking kit, fact sheets and newsletter articles.