Abstract
Despite growing controversy surrounding its use as a “morning after pill,” diethylstilbestrol (DES) is prescribed liberally for rape victims. Guidelines for its use in these patients is lacking. Of 150 consecutive rape victims treated at a university medical center, 63 (42 percent) received prescriptions for DES. Of the 55 (87 percent) on whom follow-up was obtained, in 40 (73 percent) there were substantial side effects—nausea or vomiting, or both. At least six (11 percent) did not complete therapy because of these side effects.
The authors offer guidelines for use of DES for rape victims and a plan for patient education and follow-up.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bassuk E., Savitz R., McCombie S., Pell S. Organizing a rape crisis program in a general hospital. J Am Med Womens Assoc. 1975 Dec;30(12):486–490. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Burgess A. W., Holmstrom L. L. Rape trauma syndrome. Am J Psychiatry. 1974 Sep;131(9):981–986. doi: 10.1176/ajp.131.9.981. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hall M. N. Use of the "morning-after pill" in a college student health service. J Am Coll Health Assoc. 1974 Jun;22(5):395–396. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Herbst A. L., Ulfelder H., Poskanzer D. C. Adenocarcinoma of the vagina. Association of maternal stilbestrol therapy with tumor appearance in young women. N Engl J Med. 1971 Apr 15;284(15):878–881. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197104222841604. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kaufman A., Hilaski S., DiVasto P., VanderMeer J., Eppler B. Total health needs of the rape victim. J Fam Pract. 1975 Jun;2(3):225–229. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kuchera L. K. Postcoital contraception with diethylstilbestrol. JAMA. 1971 Oct 25;218(4):562–563. doi: 10.1001/jama.218.4.562. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Noller K. L., Fish C. R. Diethylstilbestrol usage: Its interesting past, important present, and questionable future. Med Clin North Am. 1974 Jul;58(4):793–810. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)32122-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]